IC-NRLF 


SB    m    771 


PRICE  5O  OEKTTS. 


THE 


SPORTSMAN'S  GUIDE 


NORTHERN  LAKES 


HINTS   ON 


FISHING,  HUNTING  AND  TRAPP 


GEORGE  ERA 

AUTHOR  OP  "LEGENDS  OF  THE  LA 

ILLUSTRATED. 


CHICAGO  : 
!i  PUBLISHER, 

199  South  Clark  Street, 


Gift  of  C.  A.  Kofoid 


THE 

SPORTSMAN'S  GUIDE 


TO  THE 


NORTHERN  LAKES; 


WITH  HINTS  ON 


FISHING,  HUNTING  AND  TRAPPING. 


BY  GEORGE  [FRANCIS.^ 

AUTHOR  OF  "LEGENDS  OF  THE  LAND  OF  LAKES,"  ETC. 


ILLUSTRATED. 


CHICAGO: 
G.  F.  THOMAS,  PUBLISHER, 

199  South  Clark  Street. 


COPYRIGHTED 

BY     a.    F.    THOMAS. 

3885. 

All  Rights  E^erved. 


551 

s 


TRANSPORTATION  .CO. 


THE  GREAT  LAKE  ROUTE, 

The  Tourist's  Choice  to  the  Summer  Resorts  of 

LAKE    SUPERIOR, 

THE    ONLY    LINE    OF 

FIRST-CLASS  PASSENGER  STEAMERS 

Between  Chicago,    Milwaukee,  Mackinaw,  Duluth  and  all  inter- 
mediate ports. 

For  Safety  and  Speed  unsurpassed ! 

Elegantly  furnished  cabins  and  state  rooms ! 

Magnificent  Scenery!  Ho  Malaria! 

A   Summer  Paradise  ! 


For  Tourist's  Guides  and  General  Information,  call  or  address 

L.  M.  &  L.   S.  T.  CO., 

74  Market  St.,  Chicago. 


SCENES  ON  LONG  LAKE,    C.,  ST    P.,  M.  &  O.  RY.  35  MILES  FROM  ASHLAND. 


PREFACE. 


Fishing  and  Hunting  in  the  Northern  Summer  Land,  the  poetry 
of  motion,  the  music  in  the  air,  the  thrill,  the  healthful  exercise; 
what  exquisite,  unutterable  joy !  Where  is  the  sportsman,  or  the 
pleasure  tourist  out  for  a  week,  who  can  resist  the  temptation  to 
shoulder  a  gun  and  throw  a  line?  One's  mind  grows  fresher; 
memories  bring  back  the  scenes  of  early  youth, — the  brooklet,  the 
meadow,  the  silvery  lake  and  the  alpine  height.  Yes !  all  of  these, 
and  myriads  of  game  and  tons  of  fish  await  your  arrival  in  the 
Northern  Wilderness.  The  great  forests  of  Wisconsin,  Michigan 
and  Minnesota,  bedecked  by  an  infinite  number  of  glistening 
lakes  and  crystal  streams,  together  form  one  of  the  grandest 
pleasure  gardens  of  the  world;  and  there  is  where  our  little  book 
wishes  to  guide  those  who  are  susceptible.  Then,  if  we  should 
inform  you  only  in  regard  to  "  Points  of  Interest,"  choice  localities 
for  game  and  fish  and  the  ways  of  getting  there,  you  might,  if  not 
a  practical  sportsman,  fail  of  "bagging"  a  single  fowl  or  deer,  or 
of  catching  even  a  trout.  But  no  !  such  is  not  to  be.  You  will  find 
your  game  and  will  "  bag "  it  too,  for  we  have  given  you  explicit 
instructions  and  many  useful  hints  for  sporting  operations.  We  do 
not  claim  perfection,  or  that  any  one  subject  cannot  be  more  fully 
treated.  We  have  simply  done  our  best,  and  hope  to  be  encouraged 
by  those  who  could,  if  they  ^  ould,  help  the  good  work  along.  We 
shall  be  glad  to  receive  criticisms  if  any  of  our  readers  should 
happen  to  find  us  in  error  regarding  any  point  or  subject.  Our  fund 
of  information  has  been  gathered  from  so  many  sources  that  it  is 
not  at  all  improbable  that  some  small  errors  occur.  To  attempt  a 
description  of  all  the  desirable  points  located  within  the  bounds  of 
the  three  States  previously  mentioned,  we  find  entirely  impossible 
in  a  work  of  limited  scope.  Therefore  we  have  arranged  in  alpha- 
betical order,  an  "Index  to  Northern  Sporting  and  Pleasure  Re- 
sorts," which  will  add  considerably  no  doubt  to  the  usefulness  of 
our  little  work. 


PREFACE.  IX 

The  author,  not  depending  entirely  upon  his  own  personal  experi- 
ence with  reference  to  game,  fish,  etc.,  sought  information  relating 
to  the  subject  from  his  many  friends  and  acquaintances  throughout 
the  northern  country.  Among  the  hundreds  who  responded,  we 
are  under  special  obligations  to  the  following  named  gentlemen: 
First  of  all,  the  General  Managers  and  Passenger  Agents  of  the  vari- 
ous railway  companies,  Messrs.  Teasdale,  Barker,  Stennett,  Carpen- 
ter, Hair,  Winter,  Davis,  Warren,  Ruggles,  Lockwood  and  Whitcomb, 
all  of  whom  rendered  valuable  assistance  in  the  procurement  of  relia- 
ble and  impartial  information;  second,  but  no  less  important,  was 
the  assistance  contributed  by  Messrs.  H.  H.  Stafford  and  T.  Mead,  of 
Marquette,  Messrs.  George  R.  Stuntz,  J.  H.  La  Vaque,  and  G.  H. 
White,  of  Duluth;  Hon.  Samuel  S.  Fifield  and  Messrs.  Samuel  H. 
Brown  and  W.  R.  Durfee,  of  Ashland;  H.  C.  Putnam, of  Eau  Claire; 
Capt.  Angis  and  H.  A.  Murphy,  of  Bayfield;  James  Bardon,  of 
Superior  City;  G.  A.  Wettestein,  of  Negaunee;  the  Hon.  Henry  M. 
Rice  and  J.  Fletcher  Williams,  of  St.  Paul;  H  L.  Gordon,  of  Minne- 
apolis; D.  C.  Evans,  of  Mankato;  A.  S.  Diamond,  of  Excelsior;  the 
Hon.  John  W.  Bell,  of  La  Pointe;  W.  D.  Gumaer,  of  Phillips;  Ed. 
C.  Coleman,  of  Rice  Lake;  David  Greenway,  of  Green  Lake;  John 
Ellison,  of  Ellison's  Bay;  J.  C.  Curren,  of  Rhinelander;  S.  J.  Brown, 
of  Brown's  Valley;  C.  H.  Bennett,  of  Pipestone;  Leonard  Thomas, 
of  Lac  Vieux  Desert;  J.  O.  Thayer,  of  Milwaukee;  Thomas  T. 
Bates,  of  Traverse  City;  F.  Lawler,  of  Eagle  River;  C.  A.  Merritt, 
of  Merritt's  Landing;  J.  W.  Mullen,  of  Taylor's  Falls;  O.  H.  Millard, 
of  Ontario;  Roderick  Ross,  of  Winnipeg;  Messrs.  W.  B.  Pearl  and  N. 
C.  Kirk,  of  Devil's  Lake;  and  last  but  not  least,  Messrs.  Draper  and 
Durrie,  of  the  Wisconsin  Historical  Society,  Madison. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE. 

THE  NORTHERN  LAKES,  general  description  of  the  Northern  Lakes, 
Streams,  Forests,  etc . .  1 

ROUTES  TO  LAKE  SUPERIOR 5 

HINTS  TO  TRAVELERS :  Railway  fare,  Excursions,  Depots,  etc 6 

LAKE  SUPERIOR;  Duiuth,  Superior,  West  Superior,  Washburn,  Ashland, 
Bayfleld,  Apostle  Islands,  Ontonagon,  Houghton,  Hancock,  L'Anse, 
Ishpeming,  Negaunee,  Marquette  and  SaultSte.  Marie 8 

POINTS  OF  INTEREST  IN  WISCONSIN  ALONG  THE  CHICAGO,  ST. 
PAUL,  MINNEAPOLIS  &  OMAHA  KAILWAY:  Rice  Lake,  Red  Cedar 
Lake,  Lac  Court  Oreilies,  Long  Lake  (No.  1),  Upper  St.  Croix  Lake,  etc.  18 

POINTS  OF  INTEREST  ALONG  THE  WISCONSIN  CENTRAL  RAIL- 
ROAD: Lake  Winnebago,  Doty's  Island,  Waupaca,  Phillips,  Penokee, 
Silver  Creek,  etc 23 

POINTS  OF  INTEREST  ALONG  THE  ROUTE  TO  MARQUETTE  OVER 
THE  CHICAGO  &  NORTH-WESTERN  RAILWAY:  Green  Bay,  Es- 
canaba,  Green  Lake,  etc 25 

POINTS  OF  INTEREST  ALONG  THE  MILWAUKEE,  LAKE  SHORE  & 
WESTERN  RAILWAY:  Sheboygan,  Pelican  Lake,  Rhinelander,  Eagle 
Waters,  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  State  Line,  Waters-Meet,  Lake  Gogebic,  etc.  27 

POINTS  OF  INTEREST  TO  SPORTSMEN  IN  MINNESOTA:  Lake  of  the 
Woods,  Vermilion  Lake,  Headwaters  of  the  Mississippi,  Park  Region, 
Minnesota  River,  etc 31 

ROUTES  TO  MINNESOTA 33 

POINTS  OF  INTEREST  IN  MICHIGAN— LOWER  PENINSULA  — Routes, 
Grand  Traverse  Region,  Petoskey,  Charlevoix,  Inland  Chain  of  Lakes, 
Grayling,  Cheboygan,  Mackinac,  Chaneaux  Islands,  etc 35 

THE  ART  OF  FISHING:  Tackle,  Baits,  etc.,  for  Pike,  Pickerel,  Perch, 
Trout,  Black  Bass,  etc 41 

FISHING  IN  THE  GREAT  LAKES:  Pound  and  gill  nets.  Winter  fishing, 
bobbing,  spearing,  etc , 53 

HOW  TO  SHOOT  WILD  GAME:  Ducks,  Geese,  Wood-Cock,  Snipe,  Part- 
ridge, Grouse,  Quail,  Loons,  Deer,  Bear,  etc —  57 

TRAPPING;  Traps,  how  to  use  them.— The  Fox,  Mink,  Musk-rat,  Squirrel, 
Skunk,  Otter,  Beaver,  Rabbit,  etc 69 

THE  ART  OF  CURING  SKINS 81 

SYNOPSIS  OF  FISH  AND  GAME  LAWS:  Wisconsin,  Minnesota,  Michi- 
g-an,  lovra  and  Dakota 85 

INDEX  TO  NORTHERN  SPORTING  AND  PLEASURE  RESORTS 90 

STATE  PARK  OF  WISCONSIN 96 

HINTS  FROM  AN  OLD  HUNTER  ...  97 


THE  NORTHERN  LAKES. 


That  all  may  "read  our  title  clear,"  and  that  the  author  may  not 
appear  as  treating  a  boundless  and  unlimited  territory,  the  follow- 
ing explanation  is  vouchsafed:  The  scope  of  the  present  work  is 
intended  to  include,  besides  the  three  Great  Lakes,  Superior,  Huron 
and  Michigan,  a  few  of  the  more  accessible  inland  lakes  within  the 
boundaries  of  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  Michigan. 

There  are,  it  is  claimed,  within  this  territory,  fully  fifteen  thous- 
and distinct  bodies  of  water.  They  are  of  all  sizes,  ranging  from 
those  of  many  miles  in  extent  down  to  a  mere  mill  pond,  covering  a 
few  hundred  acres. 

The  region  in  which  these  northern  lakes  lie  nestled  is  greatly 
diversified  in  its  topography.  From  scenes  of  pastoral  beauty, 
lingering  amid  vast  prairies,  whose  risings  and  fallings  remind  one 
of  the  mighty  waves  of  the  ocean,  to  the  forest- girt  lake,  hidden 
beneath  lofty  mountains,  or  the  mighty  river  coursing  sublimely 
through  some  of  the  grandest  of  American  scenery,  all  are  in- 
cluded within  the  borders  of  our  northern  domain. 

The  sportsman  can  here  find  that  Eldorado  he  has  so  long  sought 
for,— a  forest  home,  myriads  of  wild  game,  fish  in  abundance,  and 
that  quiet  rest  so  invigorating  to  man.  Here  the  wild-fowl,  the 
deer  and  the  bear  most  do  congregate,  and  here  the  disciples  of 
Isaac  Walton  may  satisfy  their  craving  hearts. 

The  firmest,  and  the  most  delicately  flavored  fish,  as  a  rule,  are 
found  in  northern  waters.  The  colder  and  purer  the  water  the  more 
delicious  the  fish;  an  assertion  generally  admitted  by  all  authori- 
ties. Who  that  has  tasted  the  far  famed  white-fish  just  taken  from 
the  pure,  cold  northern  waters,  can  say  otherwise  ? 

The  trout  family  inhabit  all  our  northern  lakes  and  streams. 
There  is  scarcely  a  brook  in  Northern  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  or 
Michigan  that  is  not  literally  alive  with  the  speckled  trout.  Wher- 


THE  NORTHERN  LAKES. 


ever  there  is  a  stream,  the  temperature  of  which  does  not  rise  higher 
than  sixty -five  or  seventy  degrees  in  summer,  there  trout  can  be 
found  in  abundance. 

In  the  Great  Lakes,  next  in  value  to  the  white  fish  comes  the 
salmon-trout,  weighing  often  from  twenty  to  sixty  pounds.  The 
siskowit  of  Lake  Superior  is  also  a  species  of  the  salmon  family,  and 
follows  in  the  ratio  of  values.  It  is  principally  fished  for  on  the 
shores  of  Isle  Royale  and  the  Canadian  North  Shore.  Members  of  the 
pickerel  family  are  to  be  found  in  almost  all  the  lakes  and  streams; 
also  perch,  bass,  and  wall-eyed  pike.  The  northern  lakes  are  al- 
ways desirable  places  for  summer  camping.  The  shores  are  dry 
and  gravelly,  and  in  places  rather  precipitous.  Some  are  marshy 
and  full  of  wild  rice,  the  delight  of  the  sportsman  on  account  of  the 
wild-fowl  it  brings.  Boats  and  hotel  accommodations  are  to  be 
f c  und  at  all  points  of  importance. 

Forest  Melodies. 

Do  you  hear  the  grand  outpouring 

Through  the  hills  and  leafy  glades- 
Waters  rippling,  streamlets  purling, 

Through  the  deepest,  darkest  glades  ? 

List,  the  music  all  about  you, 

Harmony  of  mingling  sound, 
Sweetly  sad,  a  weird-like  stillness 

Seems  to  rest  on  all  around: 

Loneliness  almost  oppressive, 

Yet  there  ever  drifting,  comes 
Sounds  of  life  from  all  directions — 

Notes  from  busy  forest  homes. 

Rustling  through  the  swaying  branches, 

Crackling  of  dry  twigs  that  move  ; 
Thus  the  passing  touch  of  breezes, 

Gathers  music  from  the  grove. 

Birds  are  chirping,  talking  softly, 

Singing  songs  of  triumph  loud; 
Flitting  gaily  through  the  tree-tops, 

Floating  far  to'rd  distant  cloud. 


THE  NORTHERN   LAKES. 


Insect  hordes  are  busy,  toiling, 

Squirrels  frisk  and  gambol  through 
Time-worn  monarchs  of  the  forest; 

Falling  leaves  fling  thoughts  to  you. 

From  the  earth  fresh  sweets  arising 

Fill  the  senses  with  delight, 
While  the  ever  moving  shadows 

Constant  change,  from  dark  to  light. 

Is  there  one  among  the  tens  of  thousands  who  travel  for  health 
and  pleasure,  who  loves  not  the  forest  primeval?  To  hear  the  mel- 
ody of  sounds — the  brooklet  rippling  among  the  shadows,  the 
rustling  leaves,  wind  tossed  and  falling  through  swaying  branches, 
the  languid  and  silvery  notes  of  happy  songsters— and  to  breathe 
the  sweet  odors  exhaled  by  nature's  most  precious  gift  to  the  con- 
tented mind— the  monarchs  of  the  wood-land.  Is  it  not  quite 
enough,  apart  from  any  considerations  of  sport,  game  and  luxurious 
menu,  to  live  surrounded  by  the  very  essence  of  content  and  recre- 
ation? Yes,  indeed!  We  hear  the  echo,  and  in  our  imagination, 
and  with  our  eyes  wide  open  we  see  before  us,  as  if  reading  from  a 
great  book,  where  every  page  is  new,  original  and  embellished  with 
illuminated  letters,  and  wonderful  illustrations,  the  story  of  life.  A 
beautiful  stream  of  clearly  drawn  sketches  and  ever  fresh  ideas, 
flowing  on  like  the  currents  in  the  air  or  a  river. 

For  many  miles  along  these  crystal  streams  the  foliage  is  so  denae 
overhanging  the  water  and  lapping,  as  almost  to  prevent  the  pass- 
age of  a  row-boat  under  the  lowering  branches.  Then  when  the 
sun  is  beaming  brightly,  covering  the  tree  tops  as  with  a  sheet  of 
molten  silver,  which  is  caught  by  the  rustling  leaves  and  set  danc- 
ing to  the  music  they  themselves  produce,  one  can  scarcely  believe 
his  own  senses. 

Beyond  we  see  a  deer  standing  motionless,  knee-deep  in  the  cool 
crystal  water,  seemingly  quite  unconcerned  about  our  presence. 
Hundreds  of  fish,  large  and  small,  are  leaping  out  of  the  current 
and  falling  back  again,  their  shining  bodies  coquettishly  bent  as  if 
they  were  making  jest  of  the  approach  of  civilization.  Sometimes 
our  boat  glides  listlessly  into  a  pleasant  inlet  where  the  trees  on  the 
shore  gracefully  bend  in  the  breeze  and  kiss  each  other,  then  rising 
majestically,  as  if  gathering  courage,  they  bow  and  kiss  once 
more.  The  foliage  at  times  is  mirrored  so  completely  in  the  water 


THE   NORTHERN  LAKES. 


of  a  quiet  lakelet  that  one  seems  suspended  or  floating  over  an 
enchanted  forest. 

The  more  one  rambles  over  these  forest  clad  hills,  along  the 
margins  of  quiet  secluded  waters — the  silvery  lakes  and  rippling 
streams — clothed  with  luxuriant  verdure,  bedecked  by  glistening 
rays  of  sunlight  and  gladdened  by  the  music  of  soft  zephyrs 
struggling  through  the  bush,  the  more  one  lingers,  wanders, 
dreams  as  it  were,  the  more  he  is  impressed  with  the  grandeur  of 
nature.  When  this  heaven-born  inspiration  becomes  thoroughly 
infused  into  our  hearts,  our  very  beings,  how  can  we  but  say 
"  There  is  beauty  everywhere." 

Never  for  a  moment  can  we  think  of  saying  "good-bye"  to  these 
most  charming  of  all  "Summer  Homes."  Perhaps  it  is  our  inor- 
dinate love  of  nature  and  nature's  ways;  perhaps  it  is  the  effect  of 
the  exhilerating  atmosphere  ;  and  it  is  barely  possible  that  the  deli- 
cious trout  and  the  game  upon  which  we  have  been  feeding  these 
many  days  have  engendered  an  extra  abundance  of  enthusiasm  re- 
garding this  the  "Sportsman's  Paradise.'' 

No;  we  can  never  say  good-bye.  We  depart  only,  and  that  with 
a  full  determination  to  come  again;  and  as  the  train  whirls  us  away 
over  the  "Divide"  and  through  the  valley,  our  eyes  unconsciously 
wander  back  to  the  happy  scenes  of  yesterday. 


ROUTES  TO  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


Like  the  Romans  who  once  said  "All  roads  lead  to  Rome," 
Chicagoans  believe  all  railways  lead  to  the  "  Queen  City  of  the 
Lakes."  With  her  half -hundred  lines  diverging  towards  every 
point  of  the  compass,  tourists  or  sportsmen  can  scarcely  do  bet- 
ter than  to  consider  Chicago  the  hub  from  which  they  must  radiate; 
and  in  commencing  our  series  of  tours  for  the  benefit  of  the  traveler 
we  shall  "anticipate  the  verdict,"  and  begin  at  the  head  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

There  are  four  principal  routes  from  Chicago  to  Lake  Superior, 
each  of  which  will  be  treated  with  as  little  partiality  as  possible. 

THE  ROUTE  via  the  CHICAGO  &  NORTH  -WESTERN  and 
the  CHICAGO,  ST.  PAUL,  MINNEAPOLIS  &  OMAHA  RAIL- 
WAYS, passes  through  Madison,  the  capital  of  Wisconsin,  along 
the  shores  of  Devil's  Lake,  up  the  valley  of  the  Baraboo,  over  the 
plains,  where  castellated  rocks  and  mounds  are  constantly  in  view, 
through  valleys  and  forest  lands,  along  the  margin  of  lakes  and 
brimming  rivers,  brooks  and  rocky  heights,  until  at  last  the  great 
inland  sea  is  reached.  Via  this  route  the  tourist  may  reach  either 
Ashland,  Bayfield,  Washburn,  Superior  City  or  Duluth,  and  will 
have  passed  en  route  the  splendid  cities  of  Eau  Claire  and  Chippewa 
Falls. 

THE  ROUTE  over  the  WISCONSIN  CENTRAL  and  the 
CHICAGO,  MILWAUKEE  and  ST.  PAUL  RAILWAYS,  passes 
through  Milwaukee,  Fond  du  Lac,  Oshkosh,  Neenah,  Waupaca, 
Stevens  Point,  etc.,  to  Ashland  The  scenery,  for  many  miles  after 
leaving  Stevens  Point,  is  rather  monotonous,  being  nothing  more 
than  a  continuation  of  the  great  pine  forest,  interspersed  with 
innumerable  lumbering  villages ;  but,  as  if  to  make  amends  for  this 
shortcoming,  if  such  it  be,  Dame  Nature  has  provided  at  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Penokee  Range,  and  along  the  Bad  River,  some  of  the 
grandest  scenery  to  be  met  with  in  the  entire  State  of  Wisconsin. 

Through  sleeping  coaches  leave  Chicago  via  this  line  at  9  P.  M. 
daily,  except  Saturdays. 


6  ROUTES  TO  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 

THE  ROUTE  to  MARQUETTE,  on  Lake  Superior  is,  except 
twelve  miles,  entirely  over  the  CHICAGO  &  NORTH-WESTERN 
RAILWAY  The  twelve  miles  referred  to  is  between  Negaunee 
and  Marquette,  and  belongs  to  the  MARQUETTE,  HOTJGHTON 
&  ONTONAGON  RAILWAY  Along  this  route  the  traveler 
passes  through  Milwaukee,  Fond  du  Lac,  Oshkosh,  Neenah,  Me- 
nasha,  Appleton,  Green  Bay,  Oconto,  Marinette,  Menomonee,  Es- 
canaba  and  Negaunee. 

THE  ROUTE  via  the  MILWAUKEE,  LAKE  SHORE  <fe 
WESTERN  is  properly  from  Milwaukee,  but  passengers  from  Chi- 
cago traverse  the  intervening  distance  over  the  CHICAGO  & 
NORTH-WESTERN  RAILWAY,  as  all  trains  connect  and  no 
change  of  depots  is  necessary.  The  M.  L.  S.  &  W.  is  now  completed 
to  within  a  very  few  miles  of  Lake  Superior,  and  it  is  expected  to 
be  running  into  Ashland  soon  after  navigation  opens. 

Over  this  route  one  passes  through  the  cities  of  Sheboygan, 
Appleton  and  New  London.  Then  the  line  runs  nearly  parallel  with 
the  course  of  the  Upper  Wisconsin  River  for  many  miles,  and  almost 
taps  its  very  source  at  Lac  Vieux  Desert.  From  thence  it  follows  a 
westerly  course,  diverging  a  little  to  the  north  till  Montreal  River 
and  Ashland  are  reached. 

There  is  another  route  to  Lake  Superior  somewhat  longer  than 
the  others,  but  often  used  when  the  traveler  desires  to  visit  St. 
Paul  and  vicinity  en  route.  The  route  referred  to  is  the  ST.  PAUL 
&  DULUTH  RAILWAY,  from  St.  Paul  to  Duluth,  the  traveler 
having  previously  traveled  from  Chicago  over  either  of  the  "trunk 
lines"  so  called,  between  the  two  cities. 

The  only  through  WATER  ROUTE  from  Chicago  to  Lake 
Superior  points  is  that  of  the  LAKE  MICHIGAN  AND  LAKE 
SUPERIOR  TRANSPORTATION  COMPANY. 

Hints  to  Travelers. 

LOCAL  FARE  in  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and  Michigan  is  four 
cents  per  mile,  in  Illinois  three.  Round  trip  fares  in  Wisconsin 
are  at  the  rate  of  three  cents  per  mile. 

EXCURSION  RATES  have  been  reduced  materially  in  each 
of  the  states  above  mentioned,  and  will  range  from  two  and  a  half 
to  three  cents  per  mile. 


ROUTES  TO   LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


THE  "LAND  SEEKER'S   BUREAU  OF   INFORMATION" 

of  Madison,  Wis.,  arrange  for  excursions  to  all  northern  points  dur- 
ing the  summer  months,  and  make  special  rates. 

ALL  THE  RAILWAY  COMPANIES  have  very  liberal  ar- 
rangements for  the  accommodation  of  sportsmen.  Camp  equipage, 
dogs,  guns,  fishing  tackle  and  game  are  transported  free. 

CHICAGO  —  CITY  DEPOTS.  —  The  C  &  N.  W  and  the  C., 
St.  P.,  M.  &  O.  Railways,  Wells  street,  corner  of  Kinzie,  near  bridge. 
The  C.  M.  &  St.  P.,  and  the  Wisconsin  Central  Railways,  Union 
Depot.  Canal  and  Madison  streets. 


THE  APOSTLE  ISLANDS  AND  VICINITY. 


LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


Surrounding  the  Great  Lakes,  especially  Lake  Superior,  as  nearly 
every  one  knows,  there  are  vast  tracts  of  territory  upon  which  the 
foot  of  the  white  man  has  never  trod ;  and  it  is  only  natural  that 
these  primeval  forest-lands  should  shelter  immense  quantities  of 
wild -game,  the  same  having  been  so  far,  in  a  measure,  protected  by 
the  distance  and  inaccessibility  to  civilization.  Within  a  very  few 
years  nine  different  railways  have  tapped  the  great  "Northern  Sea,'' 
coming  from  the  commercial  centers  of  the  east,  south  and  west, 
thus  facilitating  travel  and  transportation.  It  is  of  recent  date 
comparatively  that  the  ordinary  sportsman  could  reach  these  virgin 
hunting  grounds  without  consuming  much  time  and  strength. 
Now  the  railway  companies  land  him  almost  in  sight  of  his  game. 
Indeed,  it  is  no  uncommon  sight  to  see  from  the  train,  besides  the 
myriads  of  wild  fowl,  deer  and  even  bear.  Once  the  writer  while 
passing  in  a  train  near  Long  Lake  witnessed  the  shooting  of  a  bear 
from  the  baggage-car. 

In  sketching  points  of  interest  along  the  southern  shore  of  Lake 
Superior,  we  will  begin  at  the  western  extremity  and  work  east- 
ward. Hence  our  opening  sketch  will  relate  to 

Duluth. 

Proctor  Knott's  "Zenith  City  of  the  Unsalted  Sea"  is  not  so  much 
of  a  mushroom  as  some  would  like  to  believe  it.  Its  booming  days 
are  over  and  it  has  now  settled  down  to  solid  substantial  facts.  In 
wealth  and  material  beauty,  but  one  city  on  Lake  Superior  overlaps 
it.  In  population  and  .enterprise  it  outstrips  all  its  rivals.  It  has 
not  less  than  12,000  inhabitants,  and  is  growing  rapidly.  Its  massive 
elevators  are  overflowing  with  the  cereal  products  of  the  great 
west.  Its  vast  mineral  and  lumber  interests,  almost  undevel- 
oped as  yet,  bode  a  grand  future  for  the  bustling  city  on  the  hill- 
side. In  the  immediate  vicinity  along  the  North  Shore  may  be  seen 
some  of  the  finest  scenery  in  the  world;  and  to  the  west  are  the 
famous  "Dalles  of  the  St.  Louis."  Indeed  this  is  a  good  point  for 
sportsmen  to  make  headquartei  s.  Game  and  fish  are  near  at  hand, 
and  (here  is  no  lack  of  boating  accommodation. 


LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


9 


Superior. 

The  pet  of  Southern  Statesmen  along  back  in  the  fifties,  seems 
to  have  been  sleeping  while  its  sponsors  were  away.  The  city  of 
Superior  is  situated  upon  a  broad  plateau,  high  above  the  bay,  and 
boasts  of  a  harbor  unsurpassed  on  the  Great  Lakes.  It  can  hardly 
count  more  than  2,000  people,  although  the  site  covers  more  ground 
than  any  other  city  in  the  state. 

West  Superior,  (New  Town) 

Is  situated  on  St.  Louis  Bay,  west  of  the  older  town,  and  opposite 
Rice's  Point— a  part  of  Duluth.  The  C.,  St.  P.,  M.  &  O.  Railway  Co. 
have  lately  constructed  a  bridge  over  the  intervening  channel. 
Traffic  between  Duluth  and  the  east  is  benefited  thereby  to  the 
extent  of  several  hours  time,  and  much  trouble  and  vexation,  espec- 
ially in  the  cold  season. 

Passing  eastward  from  Superior  along  the  Northern  Pacific  line 
innumerable  streams  are  crossed.  They  are  all  good  for  fishing, 
especially  the  Brule,  which  is  already  considerably  talked  of. 


THE  NEW  CITY  OF  WASHBURN 


10  LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


Washburn 

Is  situated  on  the  western  shore  of  Chequamegon  Bay,  opposite  Ash- 
land, from  which  city  it  is  seven  miles  distant,  across  the  water, 
and  fourteen  by  rail.  Lake  Superior  steamers  exchange  passengers 
and  freight  at  this  point  for  the  C.,  St.  P.,  M.  &  O.  Ry. 

Ashland. 

This  beautifully  situated  city  only  four  years  ago  was  not  consid- 
ered much  of  a  village.  Then  there  were  not  more  than  fifteen 
hundred  inhabitants,  while  now  five  thousand  is  not  far  amiss.  Its 
lumbering  interests  have  made  it  what  it  is,  but  the  vast  mineral 
deposits  in  the  vicinity,  and  its  convenience  as  a  distributing  point 
and  tourists'  headquarters  will  eventually  make  it,  without  doubt, 
the  metropolis  of  Lake  Superior.  All  around,  and  within  an  hour 
or  two's  drive  or  sail  from  Ashland,  are  clustered  objects  of  in- 
terest ;  while  the  scenery  is  romantic  and  varied  in  the  highest 
degree.  Sand  River,  Fish  Creek,  Sioux  River,  Raspberiy  River,  Sil- 
ver Creek,  Pike's  Creek  and  many  other  streams  abound  with  excel- 
lent trout.  All  along  the  shore  there  is  splendid  rock  fishing,  perch 
and  bass  are  plentiful,  and  Lake  Superior  produces  white-fish  of 
superior  quality  and  size.  For  game,  well,  it  is  truly  "The  Hunter's 
Paradise,"  nature's  dream  realized.  It  seems  as  if  but  yesterday 
since  the  murmuring  streams  and  primeval  forests  were  known  only 
to  the  beaver,  the  swift-footed  deer  and  roving  Indian.  There  are 
large  and  well  appointed  hotels  at  all  the  principal  points  named, 
and  regular  steamers  ply  daily  between  Ashland  and  Bay  field.  A 
favorite  camping  ground  and  place  for  picnic  parties  and  excursion 
ists  is  furnished  in  the  Apostle  Islands,  the  beautiful  scenery  of 
which  must  be  seen  to  be  appreciated. 

The  Indian  village  of  Odanah  is  but  twelve  miles  distant.  The 
road  leading  there  passes  through  a  primitive  forest,  with  but  one 
house,  and  that  a  log  one  en  route.  Here  one  can  see  the  Indian  in 
his  native  dress,  listen  to  his  wonderful  tales,  and  witness  the 
«' grand  medicine"  dance.  You  can  see  him  in  his  birch-bark  wig- 
wam, or  you  can  visit  him  in  his  civilized  home.  The  Indian  trans- 
formed into  a  white  man,  and  the  Indian  as  he  was  in  the  oklen 
time,  live  side  by  side.  One  worships  at  the  altar,  the  other  at  the 
medicine  feast. 


LAKE  SUPERIOR.  ll 


Bayfieldy  The  «  Village  of  Fountains." 

The  following  pen  picture  of  Bayfield  and  Apostle  Islands,  is 
taken  from  "  Legends  of  the  Land  of  Lakes." 

Bayfield,  to  which  the  railroad  has  just  been  completed,  is  a  quiet, 
picturesque  village,  where  blends  in  perfect  harmony,  the  luxuriance 
of  modern  enterprise  and  the  romance  of  antiquity.  From  the 
lofty  hills  at  whose  feet  she  nestles,  bursts  forth  the  sparkling 
"nectar  of  the  gods,"  purest  water.  Indeed,  nature  in  her  gener- 
ous partiality  lavishes  this,  one  of  the  greatest  blessings,  in  such 
profusion  that  nearly  every  cottage  sports  a  fountain,  which  fact 
has  given  Bayfield  the  appellation  of  the  ' '  village  of  fountains. " 
The  rippling  brooks  meandering  through  the  village,  and  the  lovely 
view  of  the  bay  and  surroundings,  make  one  feel  as  though  dropped 
into  another  world,  a  land  of  curious  relics  and  strange  old  tradi- 
tions, and  when  we  meet  upon  the  hillside  the  good  Franciscan 
Father  in  his  brown  gown  passing  along  towards  the  old  white 
church  on  the  brow  of  the  bluff,  we  feel  as  if  we  had  really  stepped 
back  into  a  past  century.  Then  going  to  the  government  outlook 
upon  the  summit  of  one  of  the  loftiest  hills,  there  awaits  us  one  of 
the  grandest  of  earthly  scenes.  Looking  north  and  east,  beyond 
and  almost  at  our  very  feet,  the  Apostle  Islands,  twenty-four 
in  number,  lie  spread  out  in  all  their  verdant  loveliness.  "  If  a 
thing  of  beauty  is  a  joy  forever,"  then  surely  this  most  fascinating 
view  will  prove  a  never-ending  pleasure.  The  rugged  north  shore, 
with  its  capes  and  highlands,  is  distinctly  seen;  the  mountains  to 
the  east  and  south,  and  the  unbroken  forest  line  reaching  far  to  the 
west,  complete  a  circle  within  which  the  green  isles  and  the  white- 
winged  vessels  appear  like  so  many  toys. 


LAKE  SUPERIOR.  13 


The  Apostle  Islands. 

The  following  from  "Legends  of  the  Great  Lakes,"  will  no 
doubt  interest  the  sportsman  as  well  as  the  tourist.  The  author, 
says:  "Of  all  the  Lake  Superior  country  perhaps  none  can 
interest  the  traveler  more  than  these  beautiful  '  Summer  Isles 
of  a  Northern  Sea.'  It  is  a  land  of  strange  delights,  a  veritable 
bower  of  flowers  and  green  trees,  made  lovelier  by  the  romantic 
associations  of  past  ages. 

"One  may  fancy  that  in  those  early  days  of  history,  when  the 
ever-sacrificing  Jesuit  Fathers  pierced  the  unknown  wilderness 
in  their  zeal  and  love  of  humanity,  they  must  here  have  found  a 
rest,  a  place  of  sweet  repose. 

' '  If  all  the  year  w^ere  summer  it  would  not  be  hard  to  believe  that 
'  The  Apostles '  were  the  '  inspired  islands  of  the  blessed,'  of  the 
Greek  poets,  so  verdant,  sunny  and  flowery  they  are.  And  then 
there  is  the  quaint  old  village  of  La  Pointe,  with  its  ancient  relics 
and  legendary  tales,  slumbering  upon  the  southern  shore  of  Made- 
line Island  famed  above  all  others  in  the  traditions  of  the  past. 

"  Almost  upon  the  very  beach,  listlessly  dreaming  in  the  sunshine, 
rests  quietly  the  antique  little  village, — a  single  winding  street  with 
houses,  of  another  age,  strewn  along  for  half  a  mile,  like  peas  sown 
011  uneven  ground,  but  not  so  thick. 

"  Many  of  the  houses  stand  so  near  the  shore  that  little  children 
can  stand  in  the  doors  and  throw  pebbles  into  the  lake.  Back  from 
the  sandy  beach,  leading  into  shady  dells  and  over  wooded  knolls 
are  the  loveliest  of  winding  paths  where  one  can  walk  for  miles 
with  occasional  glimpses  of  blue,  sparkling  waters  and  a  continuous 
bower  of  greenery  everywhere. 

"  The  inhabitants  are  mostly  fishermen  who  spread  their  nets  in 
many  waters  during  the  summer  season,  and  return  to  winter  at 
La  Pointe.  The  houses  are  nearly  all  built  of  logs,  some  clapboarded 
and  all  plastered  with  the  nat've  clay  abounding  here;  instead  of 
lath,  twigs  interlaced  in  diamond  shape  are  used. 

"  La  Pointe  to-day  is  but  the  remembrance  of  wrhat  it  once  was. 
In  the  days  of  the  American  Fur  Company  and  John  Jacob  Astoi% 
some  three  thousand  people  made  this  their  homes.  Now  scarcely 
one  hundred  inhabitants  can  be  counted.  Many  curious  relics  of 
the  olden  time  are  still  to  be  seen.  The  Jesuit  Fathers — Allouez  and 


14 


LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


Marquette — left  their  undying  foot-prints  upon  this  most  beautiful 
shore,  in  tradition  if  nothing  more;  and  the  Fur  Company  is  still  to 
be  remembered  in  their  old  log  warehouse,  now  tottering  on  its 
feeble  foundation,  almost  ready  to  fall. 

"  Among  the  inhabitants  of  La  Pointe  there  are  several  that  are 
very  old,  and  have  lived  there  a  half  century  or  more.  They  have 
seen  La  Pointe  in  its  glory,  and  still  live  to  mourn  its  decay; — its 
last  decay,  for  it  can  never  rise  and  fall  again.  The  new  La  Pointe 
will  have  no  resemblance  to  the  past.  It  will  be  a  city  of  villas,  a 
fashionable- summer  resort.  It  •will  be  sought  for  its  health-giving 
climate,  and  for  the  remembrance  of  the  past,  the  shadows  of  which 
are  now  passing  just  beyond  our  reach.  What  poetry!  what  love- 
liness! the  very  quietude  seems  full  of  music!  aland  of  rest,  a  fit 
place  for  those  who  dream. 

"  Once  out  among  the  islands  in  a  fairy -like  sail-boat,  the  sen- 
sation is  perfectly  delightful.  The  white-winged  vessel  does  not 
seem  afloat  upon  a  watery  element,  but  suspended  in  mid-air  with 
ethereal  depths  around  and  below.  Those  who  have  visited  both 
Lake  George,  the  world-famed  Horicon,  and  Lake  Superior,  affirm 
that  the  latter  far  surpasses  the  former  in  clearness  and  transpar- 
ency. Echoes  from  every  rock  seem  to  start  when  the  silence  of 
the  solitude  is  in  the  least  disturbed,  and  become  musical  as  the 
voice  is  raised  and  lowered.  Whether  sailing  among  the  islands 
amid  their  primitive  grandeur  and  intense  quietude,  or  paddling 
along  the  main  land,  all  is  glorious—  a  summer's  dream. 


LAKE  SUPERIOR.  15 


Ontonagon 

Is  still  innocent  of  a  railroad.  There  are  several  pointed  that  way, 
but  it  is  not  for  us  to  say  when  they  will  arrive.  Visitors  must  now 
travel  by  steamboat  from  some  one  of  the  other  lake  towns. 

Black,  Presque  Isle  and  Iron  Rivers  are  all  noted  streams,  enter- 
ing Lake  Superior  east  of  the  Montreal  and  west  of  the  Ontonagon 
Rivers.  Copper  Harbor  and  Eagle  River  are  to  the  north-eastward  of 
Ontonagon,  and  upon  the  western  shore  of  Keweenaw  Peninsula. 

Honghton  and  Hancock. 

The  twin  cities  of  Lake  Superior  are  situated  on  opposite  sides  of 
Portage  Lake,  and  together  are  locally  called  "  The  Portage."  This 
is  really  the  head  center  of  the  original  copper  mining  district. 
CALUMET,  a  few  miles  to  the  north,  is  also  a  fine  city  of  5,000 
inhabitants,  made  and  supported  by  the  copper  interest  alone. 

L'Anse 

Is  a  small,  ancient  town,  located  at  the  head  of  Keweenaw  Bay, 
and  was  the  site  of  one  of  the  early  Jesuit  Missions.  It  is,  on 
account  of  its  primitiveness,  a  first  rate  place  for  hunting  head- 
quarters. To  the  south  and  west  are  some  of  the  wildest  districts 
in  the  State  of  Michigan. 

Islipemins/  and  Negaunee 

Are  both  "iron  mining"  towns  of  several  thousand  inhabitants. 
They  are  in  the  heart  of  a  wonderfully  interesting  part  of  the  Lake 
Superior  country,  the  metropolis  of  which  is 

Mctrquetfe. 

By  all  odds  the  best  built  and  wealthiest  city  on  Lake  Superior:  "  a 
city  peerless  in  her  native  lov(  liness,  with  a  veritable  Bay  of 
Naples,  glistening  at  her  feet."  Its  population  is  about  6,000,  and 
for  a  city  of  its  size  it  has  exceptional  advantages.  Its  streets  aie 
broad,  well  paved,  lighted,  and  are  usually  bordered  with  great 
slabs  of  serpentine  marble  or  red  sandstone,  as  clean  and  bright  as 
the  finest  boulevards  in  America.  Its  business  blocks  are  fine,  large 
and  substantial.  Its  residences  are  grand  and  palatial  upon  "  The 
Highlands;"  white  and  comfortable  elsewhere.  Its  people— well 


16 


LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


one  can  only  know  them  by  making  Marquette  a  visit.  There  seems 
to  be  an  influence  in  these  vast  tracts  of  forest,  these  unlimited 
beds  of  mineral  wealth,  this  grand  expanse  of  inland  sea,  which  in 
sensibly  acts  upon  the  minds  of  the  dwellers  there  about  and  wid- 
ens their  perceptions  of  their  duty  toward  their  neighbors;  at  least, 
whatever  may  be  the  cause,  they  never  fail  to  show  every  friendly 
attention  to  strangers,  and  to  provide  for  them  the  most  agreeable 
forms  of  entertainment  that  the  neighborhood  affords. 

The  great  sport  for  visitors  is  to  go  out  in  a  steamer  to  the  white-fish 
schools.  There  are  many  small  steamers  engaged  in  the  business, 
and  they  can  be  chartered  for  a  day  or  longer  by  parties  desirous 
of  participating  in  the  amusement.  Sometimes  as  many  as  a 
dozen  of  these  steamers  will  cruise  in  company,  and,  as  a  school  of 
the  eager  fish  are  sighted,  the  fleet  will  immediately  bear  down 
upon  them.  There  are  certain  well  recognized  rules  which  the 
steamers  observe  with  regard  to  each  other,  and,  in  consequence, 
there  are  often  times  when  a  number  of  the  fishermen  are  so  busy 
that  they  can  hardly  haul  in  their  fish  and  bait  their  hooks  fast 
enough,  while  the  others  are  obliged  to  look  idly  on  and  wait  for  the 
exasperating  fish  to  come  to  them;  perhaps  in  the  next  school  their 


LIGHT  HOUSE  POINT,  NEAR  MARQUETTE. 


LAKE  SUPERIOR.  17 


relative  positions  will  be  quite  reversed,  Some  skillful  anglers  will 
handle  several  lines  at  once,  the  same  as  is  customary  on  the  cod- 
fish banks;  but  the  average  visitor  to  Marquette  will  be  quite  satis- 
fied with  the  catch  of  one  line. 

The  bay  contains  several  large,  well-wooded  islands,  which  are 
favorite  resorts  for  picnic  parties;  and,  as  people  visit  them  in  every 
style  of  boat,  the  scene  on  the  bay  is  often  remarkably  brilliant  and 
lively.  Still  longer  excursions  are  made  in  yachts  and  steamers  to 
the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Superior  in  search  of  shooting  and  brook- 
trout  fishing.  There  is  no  finer  field  for  the  sportsman  anywhere 
in  the  world,  especially  as  the  hunters  have  not  yet  become  so 
numerous  as  to  make  the  game  scarce  and  unusually  wary.  It 
should  be  remembered,  however,  that  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company 
control  the  killing  of  all  game  on  the  Canadian  shors,  in  conse- 
quence of  which,  permission  should  first  be  obtained  from  the  com- 
pany's local  agent. 

On  that  shore  you  will  find  nature  in  all  her  wildness.  The  white 
man's  arts  and  ways  have  not  yet  penetrated  its  wilds,  and  the  In- 
dian with  his  peculiar  habits  can  be  found  without  seeking  far. 
This  Indian  is  not  the  savage  of  the  plains  or  mountains,  but  he 
who  has  been  tamed  by  the  kindly  teachings  of  the  patient  Catholic 
missionary,  who  has  been  a  dweller  in  the  tents  of  the  uncultured 
child  of  the  forest  for  generations,  and  who  has  lived  there  really 
and  truly  for  the  Indian's  good,  and  not  for  the  white  man's  ag- 
grandizement, as  is  too  often  the  case  with  the  so-called  friend  of 
the  Indian.  No  finer  trout  fishing  is  to  be  found  anywhere  on  the 
broad  earth  than  can  be  found  on  the  north  shore  of  this  great  in- 
land ocean.  Speckled  trout,  weighing  from  five  to  twelve  pounds, 
are  often  caught  by  the  few  adventurous  spirits  who  have  for  sev- 
eral years  sought  these  favored  shores.  The  rivers  Neepigon  arid 
Michipicoten  are  the  best  known  of  the  trout  streams  of  the  north 
shore.  Guides  to  these  streams  can  be  easily  hired  at  Marquette, 
and  fishing  parties  be  fitted  out  with  little  expense  or  labor.  And 
here  we  might  drop  a  hint  that  may  be  useful  to  the  stranger:  Take 
an  Indian  for  your  guide  if  you  go  to  the  north  shore  to  fish ;  see 
that  you  get  one  that  does  not  love  "fire  water,"  and  one  that  is 
not  afraid  of  work. 

Near  Marquette  are  several  famous  sporting  streams,  the  Au 
Train,  Chocolate,  Carp  and  Dead  Rivers,  besides  numerous  brooks. 


18 


LAKE  SUPERIOR. 


At  Marquette  steamers  leave  daily  for  all  South  Shore  ports  east  or 
west.  A  pleasant  trip  is  to  take  the  steamer  to  MUNIS  ING,  a 
pretty  little  town  down  the  lake,  from  whence  sailing  excursions 
around  the  wild  shores  of  Grand  Island  and  to  the  Pictured  Rocks 
on  the  main  land  always  prove  a  "red  letter"  in  any  man's  life. 


Sault  Ste.  Marie 

Is  a  city  of  about  3,000  inhabitants.  The  location  of  the  Govern- 
ment Ship  Canal,  and  its  naturally  advantageous  position  at  the 
foot  of  Lake  Superior  will  undoubtedly  in  the  near  future  make  a 
city  of  no  mean  proportions.  In  the  rapids  at  "  The  Soo"  it  is  said 
the  famous  white-fish  originated,  at  least  they  are  found  there  as 
well  as  the  trout  in  great  abundance.  The  surrounding  country  is 
still  a  great  resort  for  wild  game.  Being  a  peninsula  wilderness 
there  is  a  tendency  to  increase  rather  than  dimmish  the  quantity  to 
be  met  with.  The  game  is  driven  in  this  direction  by  the  hunters 
from  Marquette  and  Escanaba,  and  then  the  water  prevents  them 
going  further. 


GRAND  PORTAL— PICTURED  ROCKS. 


POINTS   OF    INTEREST 

ALONG  THE  ROUTE  TO 

DULUTH,  ASHLAND,  ETO,,  OVEK  THE  0,,  ST   P,,  M,  &  0,  ET, 


Bright  and  beautiful  is  the  scene  that  greets  us  at  every  turn,  as 
we  wind  among  the  hills  and  through  the  valleys  of  enchanting 
Wisconsin  Every  moment  seems  to  bring  us  something  of  increas- 
ing interest.  Every  village  or  hamlet  becomes  an  Eden  of  a  brighter 
hue.  The  valleys  broaden,  the  hills  become  higher  and  the  trees 
and  grass  appear  greener,  as  we  move  along. 

From  Madison,  Wisconsin's  proud  and  beautiful  capital,  with  its 
grand  State  institutions,  including  an  historical  library  unequalled 
in  the  west;  until  our  journey  ends  at  Ashland,  Bayfield,  Duluth 
or  St.  Paul,  there  is  one  continuous  panorama  which  the  traveler 
never  fails  to  admire.  Charming,  exquisite,  words  do  not  express  the 
delights  of  such  a  tour  A  scene  from  New  England— a  village 
nestled  beneath  the  hills  of  a  far  reaching  valley;  pretty  white  cot- 
tages, garlanded  with  vines  and  half  hidden  from  view  by  the 
greenest  of  trees,  stud  the  brooklet  and  swiftly  running  river  from 
mossy  bank  to  the  rising  hill  on  either  side.  Such  is  not  one,  but 
many  sights  that  welcome  the  tourist  and  the  sportsman  to  the  land 
of  sweet  repose.  One  is  apt  to  moralize  and  wonder  if  such  scenes 
are  really  of  earth.  Can  it  be  that  poverty  and  wickedness  exist 
here  as  elsewhere  ?  Is  not  everything  beautiful  within  these  pleas- 
ure gardens;  these  clean  white  homes?  Are  not  the  maidens  of  the 
fairest  type,  the  mothers  handsome  and  gracious,  and  the  men  all 
proud,  honest  and  kind  ? 

The  train  moves  on,  and  we  have  now  reached  the  Wisconsin 
River.  All  eyes  are  fixed  upon  the  scene  before  and  beneath  us. 
The  glassy  tranquil  waters,  the  languid  woods  basking  breathless 
and  quivering  in  the  sultry  glare,  the  tree  and  vine-covered  island, 
the  thicket,  the  marsh  and  the  prairie,  all  far  below  us  and  reaching 
towards  the  setting  sun,  present  a  picture  never  to  be  forgotten.  We 
are  now  at  Merrimac,  a  few  miles  more  and  we  will  have  arrived  at 
Devil's  Lake,  where  vast  rocks,  crystal  waters  and  an  hospitable. 


NORTHERN  LAKES. 


landlord  vie  with  each  other  in  pleasing  the  tourist  who  tarries  there. 
Beyond  Devil's  Lake  the  rail  follows  the  course  of  the  picturesque 
Baraboo  almost  to  its  source.  From  thence  to  Eau  Claire  we  tra- 
verse a  comparatively  level  district — apparently  the  bottom  of  an 
ancient  lake  or  sea,  in  which  the  present  bluffs  and  castellated  rocks 
were  islands. 

Forty  miles  northward  from  Eau  Claire  the  tourist  fairly  enters 
upon  the  '  '  Happy  Hunting  Grounds"  of  the  red  man.  The  Indian 
is  gone,  or  at  least  he  has  left  only  a  poor  shiftless  representative  to 
guard  his  wide  domain. 

Following  up  either  of  the  various  tributaries  of  the  Chippewa 
River,  innumerable  lakes  present  themselves  at  every  turn,  while 
trout  brooks  are  so  plentiful  that  one  might  compare  the  land  to  a 
human  body  in  which  the  veins  represent  the  streams. 

In  the  vicinity  of  CHETEK  and  BICE  LAKE  there  is  much 
that  will  induce  the  sportsman  to  tarry,  and  if  he  should  sigh  for 
"  more  worlds  to  conquer"  he  would  have  but  to  "paddle  his  canoe" 
upstream  and  presto — one  lake  then  another,  and  soon  adinfin- 
itum.  Now  that  the  red  hunter  has  passed  away,  these  almost  prim- 
itive hunting  grounds  have  regained  in  a  measure  their  former 
abundance  of  life. 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  lakes  met  with  as  the  sportsman  pro- 
ceeds along  the  chain,  is  BED  CEDAR.  It  is  about  four  miles  in 
length,  and  contains  several  picturesque  islands;  on  one  of  which 
formerly  grew  a  single  red  cedar.  From  this  tree  the  lake  received 
its  name,  there  being  no  other  of  that  species  known  in  the  vicinity. 
It  is  certainly  one  of  the  most  charming  woodland  lakes  to  be  found 
in  all  the  northern  wilderness. 

LAC  COURT  OREILLES  is  also  a  most  lovely  lake  belonging 
to  the  same  group  as  Red  Cedar,  but  is  more  conveniently  accessible 
from  Hayward,  a  new  lumbering  town  26  miles  above  Spooner, 
where  we  stop  for  meals.  Court  Oreilles  is  one  of  the  most  mag  • 
nificent  sheets  of  water  in  the  Northwest  It  is  larger,  more  ro- 
mantic and  picturesque  than  the  famous  Minnetonka,  and  is  almost 
unknown  to  the  world.  The  Indian  reservation,  which  includes  a 
portion  of  the  northern  shore,  has  no  doubt  been  in  a  measure 
responsible  for  its  primitiveness.  People  have  generally  supposed 
that  the  entire  lake  belonged  to  the  reservation,  and  were  not  anx- 
ious to  intrude. 


NORTHERN   LAKES.  21 


For  many  miles  along  the  line  between  Spooner  and  Ashland  the 
railroad  follows  the  general  course  of  the  NEMA  KAGON— a 
stream  justly  famed  for  its  finny  inhabitants.  At  almost  any  sta- 
tion until  Long  Lake  is  reached,  the  Nema-Kagon  or  a  tributary  is 
close  at  hand,  and  that  means  trout,  bass,  etc.,  to  the  heart's  content. 
Indeed,  one  can  scarcely  go  astray  in  this  the  fountain  head  of 
many  waters,  for  the  speckled  beauties  are  truly  without  number. 
They  glide  through  tho  transparent  waters,  or  dash  over  a  miniture 
rapid,  that  ripples  and  foams  like  the  laughter  of  happy  children — 
all  unmindful  of  the  patient  angler  standing  just  below  with  an 
alluring  fly  ready  for  his  prey 

The  Nema  Kagon  begins  its  existence  in  a  lake  of  the  same 
name,  situated  some  eight  miles  east  of  the  railroad,  and  not  far 
from  Long  Lake  No.  1.  (There  are  several  lakes  in  the  state  that  go 
by  this  name.) 

NEMA-KAGON  LAKE  contained  formerly  great  numbers  of 
sturgeon,  and  this  fact  gave  it  the  Indian  name  which  signifies 
where  sturgeon  are  found  or  Sturgeon  Lake. 

Twenty  miles  north  of  Hay  ward,  nestling  among  the  hills  of  the 
great  "  divide  "  from  whence  waters  flow  to  the  Atlantic  Ocean  and 
to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  is  the  beautiful  serpentine 


Long  Lake. 

Nowhere  is  there  a  body  of  water  so  charmingly  and  conveniently 
located.  It  is  not  a  lake  in  the  usual  acceptation  of  the  term,  it  is 
rather  a  collection  of  bays  or  lakelets  united  by  a  broad,  deep 
stream.  Bold  wooded  shores  encompass  the  whole,  impressing  the 
beholder  with  a  sense  of  awe  and  at  the  same  time  with  a  feeling 
that  the  beautiful  scene  spread  out  before  his  delighted  eyes,  was 
intended  all  for  him  and  his  companions.  A  sort  of  kingly  feeling 
—I  am  lord  of  all  I  survey.  The  scene  is  like  an  Arcadian  dream, 
so  wild,  so  still,  so  grand,  amid  the  forest  giants — the  grand  old 
pines,  the  majestic  oaks,  the  hemlocks  and  the  maples.  Here  breathe 
we  the  life-giving  aroma,  so  potent  yet  so  unappreciated  by  those  to 
whom  it  has  given  renewed  life,  and  by  those  who  might,  if  they 
only  would,  be  benefited. 

Long  Lake  is  about  eight  miles  in  length  and  averages  two  in 


NORTHERN   LAKES. 


breadth.  Its  waters  are  as  clear  as  crystal,  very  deep  and  con- 
tain besides  the  usual  bass,  pike,  pickerel,  perch  and  muskalonge, 
the  far  famed  white-fish,  a  species  seldom  found  outside  the 
Great  Lakes.  The  great  northern  pike,  an  entirely  different 
fish  from  the  so-called  pike  of  southern  waters  which  is  in  reality  a 
pickerel,  abound  here  in  great  profusion.  It  is  one  of  the  gamiest 
of  fish  and  is  also  extremely  palatable.  It  is  certainly  the  fault  of 
the  sportsman  himself  if  in  this,  the  "Land  of  Lakes"— great 
schools  of  fish  and  myriads  of  game,  large  and  small— he  fails  to 
"  bag  "  all  his  selfish  heart  may  desire.  It  is  not  the  fault  of  the  fish 
if  the  amateur  sits  upon  an  inviting  log  holding  his  expensive  rod 
and  fancy  tackle  temptingly  all  the  livelong  day,  or  trolls  his  fan- 
tastic "spoons  "  for  hours  at  a  time  without  a  bite.  It  is  his  fault 
alone.  He  should  know  his  business;  or  pleasure  if  so  it  be.  Per- 
haps an  old  fisherman  not  a  dozen  rods  away  has  been  kept  busy  all 
the  while  hauling  in  the  finny  game  and  rebaiting  a  penny  hook 
with  the  leg  of  a  homely  frog. 

In  gunning  for  large  as  well  as  small  game  if  the  amateur  knows 
not  the  habits  of  the  denizens  of  the  forest,  he  is  sure  to  buy  the 
game  he  ships  home.  A  party  of  three  trappers  winter  before  last 
during  a  four  weeks'  sojourn  at  Long  Lake  took  nine  bear,  seven- 
teen deer,  eighty-seven  musk-rats,  three  wild-cats,  seven  wolves  and 
two  beavers. 

West  of  the  main  line  to  Ashland  and  Bayfield  there  is  a  vast 
section  of  country  almost  uninhabited  and  covered  by  innumerable 
small  lakes.  Indeed,  it  is  almost  impossible  to  travel  through  it  and 
be  for  a  moment  out  of  sight  of  a  lake.  From  this  fountain-head  t 
where  cold  springs  burst  forth  begetting  rivulets  and  babbling 
brooks  that  wind  and  turn  a  thousand  times  ere  they  reach  the 
broader  stream,  the  famous  St.  Croix  has  its  source.  Beyond  to  the 
north,  just  over  the  ridge,  are  the  "  head  waters  "  of  the  Brule, 
The  "  Omaha "  railroad  intersects  the  very  heart  of  this  delight- 
ful region  at  White  Birch  and  Gordon  on  the  Superior  division. 
Gordon,  in  the  days  before  railroads,  was  a  station  on  the  Gov- 
ernment trail  leading  from  St.  Paul  to  Bayfield.  Just  north 
of  Gordon  there  are  a  series  of  small  lakes  which  have  already  be- 
come popular.  Upper  Lake  St.  Croix  is  only  a  short  distance  from 
White  Birch  station.  It  is  still  a  wilderness  of  forest  and  water,  a 
particularly  agreeable  place  for  the  handler  of  gun  and  rod. 


POINTS  OF   INTEREST 

ALONG  THE  LINE  OF  THE 

WISCONSIN  CENTRAL  RAILROAD. 


This  is  no  less  a  sporting  route,  or  "fishing  line  "than  the  one 
previously  mentioned.  Each  is  par-excellence  in  its  way  The 
<;  Central"  passes  through  some  of  the  wildest  of  forest-lands,  and 
its  scenery  is  of  a  peculiar  beauty  not  met  with  elsewhere. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Lake  Winnebago  there  is  more  wild  game 
shooting  than  one  would  suppose,  considering  the  number  of 
populous  cities  bordering  its  shores.  Westward  along  the  Fox  and 
Wolf  Rivers,  and  especially  about  Lake  Poygan,  small  game  and 
fish  are  to  be  had  in  abundance.  Snipe,  plover,  wood-cock,  prairie- 
chickens  and  ducks  abound  in  this  section  of  the  state,  and  all  the 
various  species  of  fish  indigenous  to  Wisconsin  waters  are  found 
here.  DOXY'S  ISLAND  at  Neenah  and  Menasha  is  noted,  far 
and  near,  for  the  fine  fish  caught  there.  It  has  become  a  sort  of 
rendezvous  for  Southern  sportsmen,  who  bring  their  families  with 
them. 

At  GILL'S  LANDING,  WEYAUWEGA  and  WATTPACA, 
hunting  and  fishing  are  good.  The  CHAIN  OF  LAKES  near  the 
latter  place  is  one  of  the  finest  sporting  grounds  in  this  section.  Sev- 
eral members  of  fishing  and  boating  clubs  have  built  comfortable 
cottages  upon  the  shores  of  the  "  Chain  of  Lakes,"  and  a  well-kept 
hotel  graces  as  handsome  a  site  as  one  could  wish  for. 

At  Stevens  Point  the  Wisconsin  River  is  crossed,  then  proceeding 
along  the  line  the  traveler  will  scarcely  be  interested  except  to  note 
the  almost  unbroken  forest,  the  numerous  streams  and  prosperous 
villages,  until  perhaps  Phillips  is  called  out  by  the  train  "elocution- 
ist." We  say  elocutionist  advisedly,  for  we  believe  there  is  not  in 
America  another  road  where  the  brakemen  call  out  the  names  of 
places  in  so  clear,  distinct  and  melodious  a  voice  as  they  do  here 


24  NORTHERN  LAKES. 


There  was  once  one  we  knew  on  the  "Omaha  line"  who  spoke  dis- 
tinctly, but  he  either  died  or  was  promoted. 

At  PHILLIPS  the  sportsman  can  find  almost  anything  he 
desires  in  the  way  of  game  and  fish.  Elk  Lake  is  but  a  few  rods 
from  the  hotels,  and  in  the  immediate  vicinity  are  numerous  trout 
streams. 

The  region  north  of  Phillips  is  a  perfect  paradise  for  those  who 
enjoy  camp  life  and  canoeicg.  The  numerous  streams  and  lakes 
tributary  to  the  FLAMBEAU  and  CHIPPEWA  RIVERS  furnish 
unlimited  sport  to  the  angler  for  bass,  pike,  pickerel,  muskalongc  and 
perch.  In  many  of  these  lakes  and  streams  none  but  Indians  have 
ever  fished.  The  muskalonge,  which  are  very  plentiful,  frequently 
weigh  as  much  as  forty  pounds;  so  bring  your  heaviest  tackle. 

At  PENOKEE  the  scene  changes.  Mountains  whose  summits 
reach  seventeen  hundred  feet  above  the  lake  have  taken  the  place  of 
hills,  and  a  rushing  boisterous  stream,  the  place  of  a  quiet  brooklet. 
"The  Dalles,"  and  the  rapids  of  Bad  River  breaking  through  the 
hills  and  between  towering  rocks  make  many  a  delightful  picture. 
In  passing  through  Penokee  Gap  the  railroad  crosses  Bad  River 
seventeen  times  in  a  distance  of  nine  miles. 

SILVER  CREEK,  eighteen  miles  from  Ashland,  is  a  favorite 
point  for  parties  making  Ashland  their  headquarters,  to  run  out  to 
in  the  morning  on  the  train  and  return  at  night. 

In  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Silver  Creek  are  the  famous  trout 
and  bass  streams—  Brunswieler,  Trout  Brook  and  Marengo.  English 
Lake  near  by  is  also  noted  for  its  fish.  Twelve  miles  further  north 
is  the  great  iron  bridge  over  White  River,  1,560  feet  long  and 
102  feet  above  the  water.  The  scenery  from  the  summit  of  the 
bridge  is  simply  grand.  The  eye  can  look  over  the  tops  of  trees, 
across  rugged  cliffs  and  through  the  deep,  winding  canon  on  either 
side  for  a  distance  of  from  five  to  twelve  miles. 

Back  in  the  forest  from  Silver  Creek  station  are  two  falls  in  the 
Bad  River,  one  sixty  and  tbe  other  fifty  feet  high,  and  the  two  in. 
one  view.  _=_z=_ 


POINTS   OF   INTEREST 

ALONG  THE   ROUTE  TO 

MARaUETTE,   OVER  THE   C.  &  N.  W.  RAILWAY. 


For  many  miles  after  leaving  Chicago,  over  the  "  Shore  Line" 
one  passes  an  almost  continuous  line  of  charming  villas,  elegant 
mansions  and  delightful  vistas ;  presenting  a  scene,  with  the 
broad  blue  lake  in  the  background,  most  beautiful  and  entranc- 
ing. Waukegan,  Kenosha,  Racine  and  Milwaukee,  all  pleasant  and 
prosperous  cities,  follow  in  succession  and  help  to  make  this 
favored  route  all  the  more  delightful.  Beyond  Milwaukee,  this  road 
passes  through  a  rather  thickly  settled  region  until  Green  Bay  is 
reached.  At  Green  Bay  the  sportsman  fairly  begins  his  work.  Only 
a  few  miles  from  the  city  either  east,  north  or  west  exist  some  of 
the  finest  game  haunts  to  be  met  with  anywhere  short  of  the 
*'Lake  Superior  Forests."  Almost  any  of  the  numerous  towns 
bordering  the  bay  are  desirable  points  from  which  the  sports- 
man may "  take  to  the  wood"  in  search  of  that  which  stimulates 
but  does  not  intoxicate — game. 

The  Oconto,  Peshtigo,  Menominee  and  Escanaba  Rivers  with  their 
numerous  tributaries  are  all  noted  streams  for  sport.  The  usual 
modus  operandi  for  working  these  streams  is  to  first  make  an  over- 
land trip  to  the  headwaters  of  some  one  of  them,  and  then  float 
or  paddle  down,  fishing  and  hunting  along  the  way.  In  order  to 
do  this  comfortably  a  party  of  tnree  to  five  should  go  together. 
Two  or  four  carriers  should  be  employed  to  transport  the  camp 
equipage,  boats,  etc.  These  carriers  will  also  act  as  cooks  and  do 
the  rowing  or  paddling  on  the  down  journey. 

A  favorite  route  for  this  kind  of  a  trip  is  to  go  by  rail  to  some 
point  near  the  head  waters  of  the  Escanaba  River,  and  from  thence 
follow  the  stream  to  its  mouth,  at  the  city  of  Escanaba. 

For  the  sportsman,  Escanaba  furnishes  every  attraction  that  the 


26  NORTHERN   LAKES- 


heart  can  wish  for,  fish,  flesh  and  fowl  being  all  within  easy  reach. 
The  fishing  in  "White  Fish  Bay  can  not  be  excelled  for  white-fish, 
sturgeon  and  lake  trout;  while  all  the  small  streams  in  the  back 
country  are  full  of  that  delicious  game  fish,  the  speckled  trout  In 
the  woods  may  be  found  partridges,  squirrels,  wood-ducks  and  other 
small  game  in  abundance,  while  the  marshes  and  streams  are  the 
favorite  haunts  of  the  duck,  goose,  brant,  wild  swan  and  other 
water  fowl.  Those  mighty  nimrods  who  desire  large  game  can  find 
both  deer  and  bear  in  considerable  numbers  at  the  proper  season, 
and  at  times  the  latter  become  so  numerous  and  bold  that  the  hunt- 
ers, unless  experienced  and  skillful,  are  liable  to  find  the  tables 
turned  upon  them  by  an  enraged  and  slightly  wounded  bruin.  The 
shores  of  Ba  de  Noquette  is  particularly  mentioned  as  the  haunt  of 
large  game. 

Diverging  from  the  main  line  the  sportsman,  especially'it^he  en- 
joys social  life  at  a  Summer  Resort,  will  do  well  to  cast  his  lines  in 
GREEN  LAKE,  which  is  but  twenty  miles  west  of  Fond  du  Lac, 
on  a  branch  of  the  C.  &  N.  W.  Ry.  This  lake  is  noted  for  its  excel 
lent  fish,  the  black  bass  especially.  In  the  vicinity,  all  kinds  of 
small  game  is  plentiful.  Puckaway  Lake,  a  few  miles  west  of 
Green  Lake,  is  celebrated  as  one  of  the  few  places  in  America 
where  canvas-back  ducks  are  found 

The  Menominee  and  Bois  Brule  Rivers  formerly  were  the  great- 
est game  haunts  in  the  country.  Even  now  this  section  furnishes 
fine  sport  for  the  hundreds  who  go  there  every  year.  The  C.  &  N. 
W.  Ry.  have  a  branch  leaving  the  main  line  at  Powers,  a  station 
near  Escanaba,  for  the  Menominee  Iron  District,  which  will  carry 
the  sportsman  right  into  the  heart  of  these  favored  hunting  grounds, 
passing  en  route  Sturgeon  Falls  Little  and  Big  Quinnesec  Falls,  etc. 


POINTS   OF   INTEREST 

ALONG  THE  ROUTE  OF  THE 

L-   S-   &c  W. 


The  wildest  of  all  the  wild  northern  lake  land,  except  perhaps  the 
north  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  is  that  from  which  the  Upper  Wis- 
consin River  receives  its  nourishment.  The  region  from  Wausau  to 
Vieux  Desert,  and  beyond  even  to  Gogebic  and  the  Montreal,  in 
Michigan,  was  until  very  recently  a  howling  wilderness.  Three 
years  ago  the  chance  hunter  as  he  toiled  slowly  through  fen  and 
bush,  or  paddled  his  canoe  down  the  silvery  waters,  scarcely  dreamed 
of  the  transformation  that  was  about  to  take  place.  A  railroad  has 
been  built.  Numerous  villages  and  even  cities  have  grown  from  out 
the  forest,  the  beautiful  forest  which  nature  provided  for  man's 
health  and  amusement. 

Starting  from  Milwaukee,  the  sportsman,  if  he  be  one  of  a  party 
numbering  six  or  more,  will  most  likely  occupy  a  section  in  one  of 
the  comfortable  "Hunting  Cars"  provided  by  the  M.,  L.  S.  &  W. 
Ey.  Co.  In  these  cars  he  eats,  sleeps  and  makes  himself  generally 
at  home,  the  same  whether  his  car  is  on  the  move  or  whether  it  has 
been  switched  off  at  one  of  the  many  sporting  stations  along  the 
line. 

Long  before  reaching  the  "beautiful  land  over  there,"  where 
ducks  and  geese  will  never  cease,  where  deer  are  fair  and  mosqui- 
toes rare,  oh  that  wonderful  land  over  there, ..the  sportsman,  no 
doubt,  will  have  become  interested  in  the  charming  scenery  passed 
en  route. 

Sheboygan,  fifty-two  miles  north  of  Milwaukee,  is  one  of  che 
pleasantest  cities  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin.  Situated  as  it  is  on 
Lake  Michigan,  whose  waters  are  plentifully  supplied  with  the 
finny  tribe,  visitors  to  the  "Evergreen  City'*  need  never  lack  for 
sport.  In  the  marshes  and  among  the  "  Kettles,"  the  name  of  a 
range  of  peculiarly  shaped  hills,  a  short  distance  west  of  the  city,* 


28  NORTHERN  LAKES. 


considerable  small  game  may  be  found,  in  season.  Also  fishing  in 
the  small  lakes  is  usually  good. 

The  scenery  surrounding  Sheboygan  and  "The  Falls  "is  very 
attractive.  Lovely  vistas  unexpectedly  appear,  picturesque  hills 
and  valleys,  winding  streams  and  rural  homes,  all  are  beautiful;  and 
with  the  hospitality  of  the  people  we  meet,  we  are  forcibly  re- 
minded of  an  old- country  scene. 

At  MANITOWOC  the  next  point  on  the  route,  the  road  leaves 
the  lake  and  bears  westward,  crossing  the  Fox  River  at  Appleton. 

NEW  LONDON,  farther  along  up  the  line,  is  quite  a  place  for 
fish  and  small  game,  but  for  sporting  in  the  fullest  acceptation  of 
the  term,  go  a  little  farther. 

Just  beyond  CLINTON VILLE  the  watchful  tourist  will  become 
conscious  of  the  fact  that  the  appearance  of  the  country  is  grad- 
ually undergoing  a  change.  The  cultivated  fields  and  comfortable 
looking  farm  houses  have  been  left  behind.  Soon  we  will  have 
fairly  entered  the  great  Wisconsin  forest.  Another  of  such  extent 
does  not  exist  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  its  eastern,  western  and 
northern  boundaries  being  respectively  Green  Bay  the  St.  Croix 
River  and  Lake  Superior. 

The  southern  portion  of  this  great  forest  consists  of  a  magnificent 
growth  of  hard-wood — maple,  beech,  birch,  elm  and  other  varieties, 
interspersed  with  groves  of  pine  and  hemlock.  This  belt  of  hard- 
wood timber  extends  almost  across  the  entire  State  and  from 
twenty  to  thirty  miles  north  and  south,  of  course,  varying  some- 
what. 

During  the  open  season  in  Wisconsin  (Nov.  1st  to  Dec.  15th)  this 
hard- wood  district  is  the  favorite  resort  of  the  deer.  In  the  sum- 
mer he  seeks  a  cooler  region  further  north,  and  may  then  be  found 
in  the  forest  immediately  south  of  Lake  Superior.  Even  in  his 
summer  home  this  handsomest  of  wild  game  is  not  allowed  to  rest. 
The  open  season  in  Upper  Michigan  commences  ten  weeks  earlier 
than  in  Wisconsin,  on  account  of  which  this  hotly-chased  creature 
is  compelled  to  stand  considerable  popping  at  before  he  meets  the 
reserve  force  down  in  Wisconsin. 

Beyond  the  hard-wood  belt  is  the  great  pine  forest,  and  here  we 
enter  the  lake  region  proper,  of  north-eastern  Wisconsin. 

PELICAN  LAKE  is  the  first  that  deserves  special  attention.  It 
has  already  gained  quite  a  notoriety  for  the  excellence  of  its  fish, 
bass  and  muskalonge  in  particular. 


NORTHERN   LAKES.  29 


The  best  season  for  muskalonge  fishing  here,  as  well  as  all  other 
lakes  in  this  region,  is  from  May  20th  to  July  1st,  and  from  Aug. 
20th  to  Oct.  20th.  The  bass  season  is  from  about  June  10th  to 
Oct.  15th. 

At  MONICO  a  few  miles  above  Pelican,  the  sportsman  bound 
for  Lakes  George  and  Thompson  diverges  from  the  main  line  by 
taking  a  branch  road,  "which  carries  him  to  a  station  near  these 
lakes,  or  to  RHINELANDER,  a  brisk  little  city,  three  miles  be- 
yond. 

Resuming  our  way  up  the  main  line  we  first  pass  CLEAR 
WATER  LAKE,  said  to  be  an  excellent  fishing  ground. 

Six  miles  further  and  we  come  to  EAGLE  RIVER  STATION, 
a  town  of  considerable  expectations.  It  is  a  very  desirable  location 
for  sportsmen,  being  situated  on  the  Eagle  River  and  in  the  midst 
of  a  magnificent  chain  of  lakes  known  as  the  EAGLE  WATERS. 
There  are  twenty-six  lakes,  large  and  small,  included  in  the  Eagle 
series ;  some  are  extremely  beautiful,  while  all  are  literally 
alive  with  bass,  pike,  pickerel,  perch  and  muskalonge.  The  latter 
is  said  to  excel  all  previous  records  elsewhere.  However  that  may 
be,  we  know  they  are  extraordinarily  plentiful  and  of  the  finest 
flavor.  Sportsmen  will  find  the  best  of  accommodation  at  Eagle 
River,  and  can  engage  from  Messrs.  Perry  &  Lawler,  Indian  guides, 
boats,  etc.,  for  tours  either  through  the  Eagle  Waters  or  for  more 
distant  points.  Both  of  these  gentlemen  are  personally  acquainted 
with  every  stream  and  lake  in  this  section  of  the  State. 

Among  the  numerous  lakes  north  of  Eagle  Waters  is  the  historic 
"  LAC  VIEUX  DESERT,"  and  upon  an  island  in  this  lake  early 
French  explorers  found  not  only  an  existing  Indian  village  but  the 
remains  of  an  ancient  city  and  large  garden  beds;  these  latter  giving 
the  vicinity  its  name— the  "Lake  of  the  deserted  gardens"  translated 
into  French,  "Lac  Vieux  Desert." 

The  Wisconsin  River  here  finds  its  true  source,  although  the 
waters  of  a  thousand  lakes  augment  its  volume  as  it  moves  along, 
sometimes  sweetly  serene,  again  turbulent  and  rapid,  in  its  course. 

To  mention  the  names  even  of  the  larger  and  finer  lakes  "where 
there  are  so  many,  would  prove  of  little  or  no  benefit,  as  name  is 
nothing;  it  is  the  lakes  that  produce  the  fish  and  game  that  the 
sportsman  goes  to  see. 

A  favorite  trip  with  sportsmen  is  to  follow  down  the  Wisconsin 
River  from  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  to  where  the  Eagle  River  joins  the 


30  NORTHERN  LAKES. 


Wisconsin,  thence  up  the  Eagle  Eiver  and  into  the  various  lakes  at 
pleasure. 

Between  Lac  Vieux  Desert  and  STATE  LINE  STATION  is  what 
is  called  the  ''divide,"  —  the  highest  land,  where  waters  flow  in 
opposite  directions  almost  from  the  same  spring.  The  Ontonagou 
River,  flowing  into  Lake  Superior,  has  its  beginning  only  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  source  of  a  stream  flowing  into  the  Wisconsin. 

At  the  south  western  extremity  of  Lac  Vieux  Desert,  and  where 
the  Wisconsin  River  first  appears,  the  old  military  road  leading 
from  Green  Bay  to  Ontonagon,  touches  the  lake.  An  old  pioneer 
trader  still  lives  at  this  point,  which  was  once  a  "  station"  on  the 
mail  route  aforesaid.  There  is  no  trading  now,  the  Indians  are 
gone,  but  the  good-natured  back-woodsman  keeps  busy  all  the  same. 
He  is  always  obliging  and  most  happy  when  he  can  do  a  favor  to 
one  of  his  fellow  men. 

From  the  lake  at  this  point  to  State  Line  Station,  distance  about 
five  miles,  there  is  a  very  good  road  cut  through  the  forest. 

Four  miles  west  of  State  Line  Station  is  Black  Oak  Lake,  where 
Mackinaw  trout  are  found  in  great  abundance. 

In  this  region  there  is  no  lack  of  brook  trout,  the  various  streams 
are  fairly  alive  with  them.  At  WATERS-MEET,  eight  miles 
north  of  State  Line,  a  number  of  these  small  streams  unite,  a  fact 
which  has  suggested  the  pretty  name  borne  by  the  town.  ''  Duck 
Creek,"  and  "  Great  Trout  Brook,"  the  latter  the  east  branch  of  the 
Ontonagon;  have  already  become  quite  famous  for  their  finny 
beauties. 

Seventeen  miles  further  along  the  line  and  GOGEBIC  STATION 
is  reached.  LAKE  GOGEBIC  is  four  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the 
station.  Hotel  accommodations,  boats,  etc.,  are  provided  at  the  lake. 
Sportsmen  who  have  visited  Lake  Gogebic  loudly  proclaim  its  praise. 
It  is  a  veritable  paradise  for  black-bass  fishermen,  as  the  streams  en- 
tering the  lake,  are  for  trout  anglers.  Lake  Gogebic  is  quite  a  large 
sheet  of  water,  extending  twenty  miles  in  length  and  reaching  to" 
•within  twelve  miles  of  Lake  Superior.  It  is  bound  to  become  a 
great  resort  not  only  for  fish  and  game,  but  for  health  and  pleasure. 

Up  to  about  the  first  of  July,  trout  are  taken  in  this  lake  almost  as 
frequently  as  bass,  and  by  the  same  methods,  and  they  are  usually 
of  the  largest  size.  Later  in  the  season  trout  can  only  be  taken  in 
the  tributary  streams,  whose  waters  are  sought  by  them  on  account 
of  their  being  colder  than  the  lake. 


POINTS   OF    INTEREST  i 

—  TO  — 

SPORTSMEN  IN  MINNESOTA. 


The  lakes  and  streams  of  Minnesota  are  as  a  rule  quite  dissimilar 
to  those  of  Wisconsin  and  Michigan.  They  are  usually  larger 
bodies  of  water,  the  shores  are  less  wooded,  and  inclined  to  low 
banks.  The  fish  seem  to  average  about  the  same  in  each  of  the 
three  States,  but  some  species  of  small  game,  especially  the  prairie- 
chicken,  are  more  plentiful  in  Minnesota. 

IN  NORTHERN  MINNESOTA,  and  especially  that  portion 
bordering  upon  the  north  shore  of  Lake  Superior,  the  sportsman 
can  find  plenty  of  large  game,  as  well  as  small ;  and  in  the  vicinity 
of  Lake  Winnebagoshish,  Leach  Lake,  Mille  Lacs  and  Red  Lake 
there  is  some  of  the  finest  sporting  in  the  world.  Either  one  of 
these  four  inland  seas  is  larger  than  the  largest  of  Wisconsin's  in- 
terior lakes,  and  one  of  them  covers  over  300,000  acres  ;  but  the 
grandest  of  all  hunting  grounds  that  may  be  counted  accessible  are 
in  the  vicinity  of  the  LAKE  OF  THE  WOODS. 

To  reach  this  truly  wild  domain  the  sportsman  must  travel  over- 
land some  seventy-five  or  eighty  miles  or  go  round  by  the  way  of 
the  St.  P  .  M.  &  M.  Ry.  to  Winnipeg,  and  then  by  the  Canadian 
Central  Ry.  to  "Rat  PortagQ,"  a  station  on  the  most  north-westerly 
extremity  of  the  lake.  For  those  who  can  spare  the  time  and  en- 
joy back -woods  life,  this  is  one  of  the  finest  trips  possible.  There  is 
no  lack  of  game;  deer,  bear,  elk,  cariboo  and  all  the  smaller  varieties 
abound.  The  lake  is  about  seventy-five  miles  in  extent,  and  is  so 
full  of  islands  and  bays  that  without  a  guide  a  man  is  liable  to  get 
lost  in  short  ordei. 

A  favorite  route  for  returning  is  by  water,  all  the  way  except  por- 
tages; traversing  Rainy  Lake  and  River,  Sturgeon  Lake,  Arrow  and 
Pigeon  Rivers,  etc.,  toLake  Superior.  Along  this  route  one  can  hunt 


NORTHERN  LAKES 


or  tish  as  his  inclination  dictates,  and  always  with  a  bounteous 
showing. 

South  east  of  Rainy  Lake  some  forty  miles  is  Vermilion  Lake,  a 
body  of  water  which  will  some  day  become  popular  as  a  resort.  At 
present  it  is  fast  becoming  famous  as  the  "region  of  metals,"  gold, 
silver  and  iron.  There  is  no  lack  of  game  in  any  of  these  northern 
wildernesses.  Vermilion  Lake  is  eighty  five  miles  from  Duluth,  but 
so  primitive  is  the  intervening  territory  that  one  might  suppose 
himself  a  thousand  miles  from  civilization. 

West  of  Duluth  along  the  Northern  Pacific  Ry  there  are  plenty  of 
good  hunting  and  fishing  grounds.  In  the  vicinity  of  Brainard,  and 
the  head  waters  of  the  Mississippi,  and  in  fact  wherever  a  lake  or 
stream  appears,  game  or  fish  haunts  may  be  looked  for 

THE  PARK  REGION  of  Minnesota,  including  within  its 
borders  over  a  thousand  lakes,  is  probably  the  most  noted  of  any 
section  of  the  State.  The  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  &  Manitoba  Ry. 
pierces  this  famous  region  in  all  its  parts  St  Cloud,  Sauk  Center, 
Osakis,  Alexandria,  Ashby,  Fergus  Falls  and  Brown's  Valley  are  all 
familiar  names  to  the  knight  of  the  gun  and  rod.  In  the  neighbor- 
hood of  each  of  these  towns  are  lakes — from  one  to  a  dozen  all  more 
or  less  wooded  and  many  quite  primitive  These  waters  produce  all 
the  usual  varieties  of  fish;  bass,  pickerel  and  wall-eyed  pike  pre- 
dominating Water-fowl,  prairie  chicken,  partridge,  grouse  and 
other  game  birds  are  plentiful. 

Along  the  Sioux  City  division  of  the  C.(  St  P  M.  &  O.  Railway 
there  is  good  fishing  and  considerable  small  game,  especially  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Peter,  Mankato,  Minneopa  Falls,  Lake  Crystal  and 
Worthington.  Westward  from  Kasota,  Redwood  Falls,  Lake  Ben- 
ton  and  along  the  shores  of  the  UPPER  MINNESOTA  RIVER 
there  is  also  good  sport,  especially  about  Big  Stone  Lake,  the 
source  of  the  Minnesota. 

Lake  Traverse,  just  over  the  dividing  ridge,  and  one  of  the  sources 
of  the  Red  River  of  the  North,  is  equally  as  good  for  sport  as  Big 
Stone  Lake. 

These  two  lakes,  extending  for  about  50  miles  north  and  south, 
form  part  of  the  boundary  line  between  Minnesota  and  Dakota. 
The  waters  of  one  flow  into  the«Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the  other  into 
Hudson's  Bay;  yet  their  head- waters  are  only  about  one-fourth  of  a 
mile  apart. 

Although  one  third  of  the  State  of  Minnesota  is  said  to  be  covered 


NORTHERN  LAKES.  33 


with  forest,  brook  trout  are  not  abundant.  Only  in  the  northeastern 
part  of  tne  State,  and  especially  in  the  streams  flowing  into  Lake 
Superior,  can  they  be  had  in  any  quantity. 

In  the  vicinity  of  ST  PAUL  and  MINNEAPOLIS  there  are  a 
great  many  lakes,  most  of  which  produce  the  ordinary  fish.  White 
Bear  Lake  and  several  others  furnish  Wall-Eyed  Pike,  in  addition 
to  the  usual  species.  Minnetonka  Lake,  with  its  hundred  thousand 
visitors  each  year,  still  produces  quantities  of  fish  and  some  small 
game 

Several  of  the  lakes  ot  Douglas  county,  contain  besides  the  usual 
varieties,  together  with  white-fish,  a  bass  variously  designated: 
Oswego,  silver  and  gray  bass.  It  is  equal  to  the  black  bass  in 
gaminess  and  flavor. 

Routes  to  Minnesota. 

From  Chicago  there  are  three  principal  trunk  lines  to  St.  Paul 
and  Minneapolis. 

The  CHICAGO,  ST.  PAUL,  MINNEAPOLIS  &  OMAHA 
RAILWAY  is  one,  and  has  been  previously  described,  under  the 
head  of  "  Routes  to  Lake  Superior." 

The  Route  to  St.  Paul  via  the  WISCONSIN  CENTRAL  R.  R. 
has  only  recently  been  opened  up;  the  completion  of  that  portion  of 
the  line  lying  west  of  Chippewa  Falls  having  be'en  necessary,  in  order 
to  form  a  through  route  from  Milwaukee  and  Chicago.  It  is  now  to 
be  considered  one  of  the  trunk  lines.  It  passes  en  route  the  cities  ol 
Stevens  Point,  Chippewa  Falls  and  New  Richmond;  and  crosses  the 
St.  Croix  River  a  few  miles  above  Stillwater. 

The  route  via  the  CHICAGO,  MILWAUKEE  &  ST.  PAUL 
RAILWAY  is  as  follows:  After  leaving  Milwaukee  the  traveler 
passes  through  some  of  the  most  charming  scenery  to  be 'met  with 
in  the  North-west.  Objects  of  interest  follow  one  another  through- 
out the  entire  journey.  Pewaukee,  Hartland,  Nashatah  and  Ocono- 
mowoc,  remind  us  ot  the  beautiful  lakes  we  are  passing  and  of 
those  hidden  from  view  just  beyond  the  groves  and  the  hills,  as  we 
move  along.  At  Watertown  the  Rock  River  is  crossed,  and  at  Kil- 
bourn  the  Wisconsin;  where  are  to  be  seen  many  fascinating 
glimpses  of  the  far-famed  "Dells."  Then  for  many  miles  the  cas- 
tellated mouDds,  previously  mentioned,  present  themselves  on 
either  side  to  the  view  of  the  tourist,  as  the  train  glides  softly  on. 

At  La  Crosse  the  Mississippi  River  is  spanned,  and  thenceforth  the 


34 


NORTHERN  LAKES. 


road  follows  along  the  banks  of  the  Monarch  stream  until  St.  Paul 
is  reached,  passing  on  the  way  several  beautiful  cities  and  the 
famous  Lake  Pepin. 

The  C.,  M.  &  St.  P.  Ry.  have  another  line  to  St.  Paul  via  Madison, 
Prairie  du  Chien,  Owatonna,  etc.,  besides  there  are  several  other 
lines  over  which  one  can  reach  St.  Paul;  but  they  are  each  one 
hundred  miles  longer  than  either  of  the  three  first  mentioned  routes. 

For  SOUTHERN  MINNESOTA.  The  CHICAGO  &  NORTH- 
WESTERN RAILWAY,  via  Madison,  Elroy  and  Winona;  or  the 
CHICAGO,  MILWAUKEE  &  ST.  PAUL  via  La  Crosse,  or  Prairie 
du  Chien,  are  the  most  desirable  routes. 


MINNE-OPA  FALLS,   NEAR   MANKATO.   MINN. 


POINTS   OF   INTEREST 

IN 

MICHIG-AN  -  LOWER  PENINSULA. 


The  Lower  Peninsula  of  Michigan,  especially  the  northern  part 
of  it,  varies  somewhat  from  the  country  we  have  been  describing, 
but  not  so  much  as  to  affect  the  varieties  of  game  and  fish.  Here, 
too,  is  a  "  Land  of  Lakes"  as  lovely  and  inviting  as  nature  anywhere 
provides.  The  great  forests  of  Michigan  have  not  all  been  taken  yet 
by  the  ruthless  hand  of  the  destroyer.  Game  is  still  plentiful. 
Deer,  bear,  grouse,  wild  turkey,  quail,  and  water-fowl  abound. 
The  lakes  and  streams  swarm  with  pickerel,  pike,  muskalonge,  trout, 
and  that  other  most  dainty  fish,  the  grayling. 

There  are  two  principal  routes  leading  to  the  northern  lakes  of 
Southern  Michigan,  viz. ,  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Railroad, 
which  pierces  the  "  Grand  Traverse  region"  and  the  Michigan  Cen- 
tral Railroad,  which  passes  more  to  the  east,  touching  Saginaw  Bay 
and  penetrating  the  heart  of  Michigan's  pine  forest. 

En  route  for  the  GRAND  TRAVERSE  region  the  sportsman 
from  Chicago  can  take  either  one  of  several  railway  lines  eastward 
to  a  point  of  intersection  with  the  Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  Rail- 
road, and  then  proceed  directly  northward  to  destination.  From 
southern  and  eastern  points  the  traveler  need  not  come  to  Chicago 
at  all. 

Eighty-five  miles  beyond  Grand  Rapids  the  sportsman  will  have 
fairly  entered  upon  the  borders  of  a  "land  of  lakes  and  streams." 
At  Tustin,  Clam  Lake,  and  the  crossing  of  Manistee  River,  a 
stream  famous  for  its  fine  grayling,  the  sportsman  will  do  well  to 
tarry.  If  Traverse  City  is  the  point  of  destination  the  traveler  will 
change  cars  at  Walton  Junction. 

TRAVERSE  CITY  is  situated  upon  a  peninsula  formed  by  the 
Boardman  River  and  Grand  Traverse  Bay,  and  is  a  splendid  point 
for  fishermen's  headquarters. 


36  NORTHERN  LAKES. 


The  bay  is  a  beautiful  sheet  of  water,  and  is  remarkably  clear,  so 
that  a  stranger  is  always  deceived  as  to  the  depth  in  which  he  is 
fishing.  The  bay  contains  muskalonge,  white-fish,  bass,  lake  trout 
and  pickerel  in  great  abundance,  and  the  adjoining  small  lakes  are 
similarly  stocked,  with  the  exception  of  lake  trout.  These  lakes  are 
situated  at  a  distance  of  from  three  to  twelve  miles  from  Traverse 
City,  as  follows:  Cedar  Lake,  three  miles;  Long  Lake,  six  miles; 
Bass  Lake,  eight  miles;  Carp  Lake,  eight  miles;  Traverse  Lake,  ten 
miles,  and  Betsie  Lake,  twelve  miles.  The  Boardman  River,  which 
here  empties  into  Grand  Traverse  Bay,  is  considered  to  be  one  of 
the  finest  trout  streams  in  Michigan,  and  all  its  numerous  tribu- 
taries are  stocked  with  thousands  of  this  delicious  fish. 

This  portion  of  the  State  is  not  only  a  rich  field  for  the  sportsman, 
but,  if  he  times  his  visit  in  the  early  autumn,  he  will  find  the  orch- 
ards laden  with  luscious  fruit,  the  peaches  of  this  section  being 
especially  fine  in  appearance  and  flavor.  Camping-out  is  preferred 
by  many  sportsmen,  but  good  accommodations  can  be  had  at  the 
country  inns  and  farm  houses,  and  at  trifling  cost. 

From  Traverse  City  to  Petoskey  the  country  is  broken,  its  hills 
covered  with  magnificent  maple  forests.  Nestled  in  its  valleys  are 
some  twenty  pretty  lakes,  varying  in  size,  some  twenty  miles  long, 
others  of  lesser  note,  all  clear  as  crystal,  and  abundantly  stocked 
with  the  finer  varieties  of  fish.  There  are  six  quite  large  rivers — 
the  Boardman,  Cedar,  Rapid,  Boyne,  Jordan  and  "Bear.  These,  with 
their  numerous  tributaries,  are  alive  with  brook  trout.  Eight  years 
ago  this  was  an  unbroken  forest,  known  only  to  lumbermen.  To- 
day there  are  probably  two  hundred  summer  cottages  and  quite  a 
number  of  comfortable  hotels.  Five  summer  resort  associations 
have  been  formed — three  on  Little  Traverse  Bay,  near  Petoskey,  and 
two  at  Charlevoix,  eighteen  miles  down  the  coast. 

Returning  by  rail  to  Walton  Junction,  Fife  Lake,  four  miles  north 
on  the  main  line,  is  reached.  Bass,  pike,  and  pickerel  in  the  lake, 
grayling  in  the  Manistee,  five  miles  southeast,  and  brook  trout  in 
the  Boardman,  six  miles  north,  are  the  attractions  of  this  locality 
Continuing  north,  the  traveler  next  finds  himself  at  Kalkaska,  on 
the  Boardman  River,  already  referred  to  as  an  excellent  trout 
stream.  Three  miles  northwest  is  Rapid  River,  one  of  the  finest 
trout  waters  known. 

Still  farther  north  the  railroad  passes  within  a  few  miles  of  the 
head-waters  of  the  Intermediate,  Grass,  Jordan,  Deer,  and  Boyne 


NORTHERN  LAKES.  37 


Rivers,  all  excellent  trout  streams,  and  the  latter  is  also  well  stocked 
with  grayling.  Boyne  Falls  Station,  on  the  Boyne  River,  is  in  the 
centre  of  a  very  fine  trout  region,  being  distant  only  a  few  miles 
from  the  Jordan,  which  is  regarded  by  many  as  being  by  far  the  best 
trout  stream  in  North  America. 

PETOSKEY,  a  very  pretty  village,  is  situated  on  the  south  side 
of  Little  Traverse  Bay,  at  the  foot  of  the  high  bluffs  which  here 
line  the  water's  edge.  The  neighborhood  is  one  of  surpassing 
beauty,  and  the  view  of  the  bay  and  of  Lake  Michigan  is  of  un- 
speakable loveliness.  To  the  north,  just  across  the  bay,  is  the  village 
of  Harbor  Springs. 

Continuing  northward,  the  road  reaches  MACKINAW  CITY,  on 
the  Straits  of  Mackinac,  thirty-five  miles  from  Petoskey.  At  Oden, 
a  station  five  miles  from  Petoskey,  situated  at  the  head  of  Crooked 
Lake,  connection  is  made  with  steamers  of  the  Inland  Route  for 
Cheboygan.,  passing  through  Crooked  Lake,  Crooked  River,  Burt 
Lake,  Indian  River,  Mullet  Lake  and  Cheboygan  River,  a  route 
noted  for  its  sublime  scenery,  as  well  as  for  the  fine  fishing  to  be 
found  at  many  points. 

CHARLEVOIX,  situated  on  Lake  Michigan,  eighteen  miles 
nearly  south-west  from  Petoskey,  is  reached  daily  from  Petos- 
key by  Hannah,  Lay  &  Co.'s  line  of  steamers.  The  location 
is  picturesque — at  the  mouth  of  Pine  River,  which  stream  forms 
a  passage  into  Pine  Lake  for  the  largest  lake  steamers.  The 
great  trout  streams  of  Michigan,  the  Jordan,  and  Boyne,  as  well  as 
others,  are  of  easy  access  by  steamers  plying  on  Pine  Lake. 

TORCH  LAKE,  the  next  point  of  interest,  is  reached  by  steamer 
from  Charlevoix.  It  is  situated  about  one  half  mile  from  Grand 
Traverse  Bay,  at  the  head  of  the  beautiful  sheet  of  water  bearing 
the  same  name. 

The  trip  from  Charlevoix  to  Elk  Rapids  is  a  most  delightful  pas- 
time, besides  giving  the  sportsman  an  opportunity  of  stopping  off 
at  some  of  the  finest  fishing  grounds  in  northern  Michigan. 

The  side  wheel  steamer  "Queen  of  the  Lakes"  makes  regular 
trips  through  the  chain  of  inland  lakes,  and  will  drop  its  passengers 
off  at  any  point  desired. 

Steaming  a  few  miles  down  Torch  Lake  we  touch  at  a  landing 
known  as  Russell's,  where  a  stage  is  in  readiness  to  convey  visitors 
to  Intermediate  Lake.  If  the  tourist  desires,  he  can  be  dropped  at 
the  mouth  of  Clam  Lake,  which  flows  into  the  east  side  of  Torch 


38  NORTHERN  LAKES. 


Lake,  Passing  up  Clara  Lake  he  will  presently  come  to  a  narrows 
leading  into  Grass  Lake,  which  is  joined  to  Intermediate  River,  a 
stream  affording  fine  fishing.  Continuing  down  Torch  Lake  to  its 
end,  the  steamer  enters  Torch  River,  a  crooked  stream  three  miles 
long,  with  charming  windings  through  the  woods,  and  thence 
passes  into  Round  Lake,  a  body  of  water  about  two  miles  in  breadth 
by  four  in  length.  Then  from  Round  Lake  it  passes  into  another 
connecting  channel  called  the  Narrows,  which  leads  to  Elk  Lake. 
Rapid  River  enters  Torch  River  about  midway,  and  this,  too,  is 
a  fine  trout  stream.  Passing  through  Elk  Lake,  the  steamer 
finally  reaches  Elk  Rapids. 

Along  the  MICHIGAN  CENTRAL  line  soon  after  passing  Bay 
City,  the  sportsman  enters  upon  an  Eldorado.  Just  beyond  OTSEGO 
LAKE. a  summer  resort  of  fine  prospects,  we  come  to  STE.  HEL- 
EN'S STATION,  where  there  is  a  charming  lake  four  miles  in 
length,  abounding  in  bass,  pike  and  perch.  Here  is  one  of  the 
sources  of  the  Au  Sable  River,  a  stream  famous  for  its  fine  fish. 

At  ROSCOMMON  STATION  an  arm  of  the  Au  Sable  River  is 
crossed;  swift>  clear,  crooked,  and  its  waters  alive  with  grayling, 
hundreds  of  which  may  be  caught  in  a  day  by  any  skilled  angler; 
while  the  vast  forests  along  the  banks  abound  with  deer,  turkey, 
and  other  game,  including  an  occasional  black  bear.  Five  miles 
from  Roscommon,  by  a  beautiful  drive  through  the  pine  woods,  is 
Higgins  Lake,  ten  miles  long  and  four  wide,  surrounded  by  romantic 
scenery.  The  lake  has  no  inlet,  and  the  water  in  the  center  has 
been  sounded  nine  hundred  feet  without  finding  bottom.  The 
water  is  so  clear  that  a  nickel  can  be  seen  on  the  bottom  at  a  depth 
ot  forty  feet,  and  it  has  the  peculiarity  of  always  showing  at  least 
four  distinct  colors  on  the  surface,  dark  purple,  blue,  and  two  shades 
ot  green.  On  picturesque  points,  around  the  shores  are  groups  of 
summer  hotels  and  cottages,  pagodas,  boat  and  bath  houses,  and  all 
the  evidences  of  a  fashionable  resort.  The  water  swarms  with  bass, 
pickerel,  land-locked  salmon,  native  white  fish,  and  the  finest  perch 
that  are  found  in  this  country.  A  few  miles  away  is  Houghton 
Lake,  one  of  the  largest  and  most  romantic  of  all  the  inland  lakes, 
its  waters  are  full  of  fish,  black  bass  weighing  from  six  to  eight 
pounds  being  common. 

At  GRAYLING  STATION  the  main  Au  Sable  River  is  crossed, 
and  seven  miles  west  is  the  Manistee  River,  both  famed  for  their 
grayling  fishing.  The  two  rivers  head  within  a  mile  of  each  other, 


NORTHERN  LAKES.  39 


one  flows  into  Lake  Huron  and  the  other  into  Lake  Michigan. 
Every  description  of  game  is  found  in  the  forests  and  jungles  along 
their  shores.  Grayling  is  a  flourishing  little  town  in  the  heart  of  a 
wild  and  picturesque  region.  Near  it  is  Portage  Lake,  one  of  the 
most  beautiful  sheets  of  water  in  the  State.  With  its  delightful 
climate,  fine  hunting  and  fishing,  and  pleasant  society,  Grayling 
has  every  requisite  of  a  popular  summering  place,  and  is  the  great 
center  of  the  grayling  fishing  region. 

CHEBOYGAN,  where  the  Michigan  Central  train  sweeps  out  in 
sight  of  the  green  waters  of  Huron,  and  the  white  crested  waves  of 
the  Straits  of  Mackinac,  is  a  beautiful  little  city  of  four  thousand 
inhabitants,  with  broad,  white  beaches,  and  a  fleet  of  yachts  and 
row  boats  always  at  command.  The  surrounding  lakes  abound 
with  white-fish,  lake  trout,  pickerel,  pike,  muskalonge,  bass  and 
perch,  while  the  streams  swarm  with  grayling  and  brook  trout. 
Deer  are  plenty  in  the  neighboring  forests,  some  bears  are  found  in 
the  deeper  glades,  and  every  lakeside  is  alive  with  ducks,  snipe  and 
other  small  game.  At  Chebojgan  is  the  eastern  end  of  a  chain  of 
exquisite  lakes  and  rivers,  that  cut  the  peninsula  entirely  in  two; 
and  a  trip  on  the  dainty  little  steamer,  that  makes  daily  trips 
through  this  necklace  of  lakelet  beads  strung  on  a  silver-river 
thread  is  one  of  the  delights  of  a  season.  A  run  of  six  miles  up  the 
Cheboygan  River  and  Mullet  Lake  is  reached.  This  is  a  magnificent 
sheet  of  water,  twelve  miles  long  and  six  miles  wide.  It  is  two 
hundred  feet  deep,  with  sloping  beaches  of  white  sand,  and  waters 
clear  as  crystal,  and  literally  alive  with  black  bass,  pickerel,  muska- 
longe, and  swarms  of  splendid  white-fish,  of  which  great  numbers 
are  taken  by  spearing.  Muskalonge  weighing  from  forty-five  to 
forty -eight  pounds  have  frequently  been  caught. 

Sturgeon  River,  which  empties  into  Indian  River  near  Indian 
River  Station,  is  said  to  afford  as  fine  grayling  fishing  as  any  stream 
in  the  old  or  new  world. 

The  Trout  Brook  and  Little  Black  River,  near  Cheboygan,  abound 
with  brook  trout,  and  a  good  fisherman  can  easily  catch  from  one 
to  three  hundred  a  day. 

The  vast  wild-rice  fields  at  the  head  of  Mullet  Lake  afford  splen- 
did duck  shooting,  and  snipe  and  woodcock  are  abundant.  Deer 
and  bear  are  found  in  plenty,  and  the  whole  region  is  a  sportsman's 
elysium. 

From  Mackinaw  City,  the  terminus  of  both  the  Grand  Rapids  & 


40 


NORTHERN  LAKES. 


Indiana,  and  the  Michigan  Central  Railways,  the  staunch  steamer, 
Algomah,  connects  with  all  trains  for  ST.  ION  ACE,  the  eastern  ter- 
minus of  the  Detroit,  Mackinac  &  Marquette  R.  R.,  and  for  MACK- 
INAC  ISLAND,  the  far-famed  "Wonderful  Isle,"  the  "Gem  of 
the  Straits."  A  description  of  the  island  seems  hardly  necessary,  as 
its  beauties  and  attractions  have  so  often  been  dwelt  upon  by  many 
eminent  writers. 

For  the  sportsman  Mackinac  offers  ample  facilities  for  reaching 
desirable  fishing  grounds,  and  for  obtaining  outfits. 

Twelve  miles  to  the  northeast,  scattered  along  the  southern  shore 
of  the  Upper  Peninsula,  are  the  Chaneaux  Islands,  an  enchanting 
cluster  of  some  seventy-five  or  eighty  beautiful  islands,  varying 
from  two  miles  in  length  to  mere  green  spots  a  hundred  feet  across, 
clotting  the  crystal  waters  which  rush  by,  twenty  to  forty  feet  deep 
in  the  narrowest  channel.  Here,  truly,  is  the  home  of  the  gamy 
black  bass,  the  voracious  pickerel,  the  delicate  white  fish,  the 
beautiful  lake  trout,  the  muskalonge  and  the  perch. 


JORDAN  RIVER,  M'CH. 


THE  ART  OF  FISHING. 


The  "regular  season"  for  fishing  is  between  the  months  of  April 
and  November.  The  best  time  of  the  day  during  the  summer 
months  is  from  sunrise  to  two  or  three  hours  after,  and  from  two 
hours  preceding  sunset  until  an  hour  after  that  time  In  the  colder 
months  the  best  hours  are  from  twelve  to  three  for  the  fish  are  shy 
at  biting  until  the  air  is  warmed  by  the  sun  A  warm,  lowering  day 
is,  of  all  others,  the  most  propitious;  on  a  cloudy  day,  also,  suc- 
ceeding a  moonlight  night,  the  fish  will  bite  readily,  the  most 
favorable  winds  are  south  and  south-west — easterly  the  most  un- 
favorable. 

Avoid  a  position  where  a  shadow  will  be  cast  upon  the  water.  Do 
not  indulge  in  laughter  or  loud  conversation;  and  in  every  way  be 
as  unnoticeable  as  possible.  Many  people  believe,  erroneously,  that 
fish  have  no  understanding;  nevertheless  the  presence  of  an  animal 
or  bird  does  not  frighten  them  or  cause  them  to  shun  the  surface  of 
the  water  as  does  the  presence  of  a  man. 

If  the  water  be  still,  throw  in  small  quantities  of  ground  bait;  if 
a  strong  current,  large  pieces;  do  this  quietly  and  cautiously,  for 
fish  are  so  wary  and  suspicious  that  it  requires  the  nicest  delicacy 
and  management  to  circumvent  them 

When  there  is  a  strong  wind  the  angler  must  seek  an  eddy  or 
sheltered  pool  for  thither  the  fish  will  be  attracted  by  the  flies  and 
other  baits  which  the  wind  may  have  blown  into  it. 

FISHING  TACKLE. — For  general  purposes  a  rod  of  about 
twelve  feet  in  length  is  the  most  convenient,  but  fifteen  and  even 
eighteen  foot  rods  are  sometimes  used  when  the  nature  of  the 
"  grounds ';  require  it. 

LINES  should  be  perfectly  twisted,  even,  and  of  a  color  as  near 
the  shade  of  water  as  possible  A  light  brown,  gray  or  white  are 
colors  preferred  by  the  practical  angler-  The  casting-line  for  fly 
fishing — that  which  is  affixed  to  the  line  on  the  reel — must  be  of  gut, 


42  THE  ART  OF  FISHING 


and  of  about  the  same  length  as  the  rod    it  should  be  of  a  uniform 
thickness  and  its  strength  tested  before  using. 

FLOATS  are  usually  procured  with  other  tackle,  but  some  prefer 
making  their  own.  In  this  case  a  fine  grained  cork  is  perforated  by 
using  a  small  red-hot  iron,  and  through  this  aperture  is  put  a  quill 
that  exactly  fits,  then  the  cork  should  be  cut  into  the  shape  of  a 
pear,  and  ground  smooth  with  pumice-stone.  If  durability  and 
gayety  be  desired,  a  coat  of  varnish  applied  over  some  bright  colored 
paint  will  then  be  in  order.  A  cork  float  should  swim  perpendicu 
larly  in  the  water,  so  that  it  may  betray  the  slightest  nibble,  and 
should  be  carefully  poised  by  fastening  a  few  shot  on  the  line. 

A  HEEL  is  a  very  useful  assistant  to  the  angler,  as  it  enables  him  to 
lengthen  or  shorten  his  line  rapidly,  thereby  allowing  him  to  play 
his  fish  with  the  greatest  ease  and  certainty.  It  must  be  kept  per- 
fectly clean  and  well  oiled. 

When  fastening  the  hooks  on  your  lines,  use  strong,  but  fine  silk 
and  if  you  can  get  it  near  the  color  of  your  bait,  so  much  the  better; 
wax  the  silk  thoroughly  with  shoemakers'  wax,  and  wrap  it  four  or 
five  times  around  the  body  of  the  hook,  then  place  the  gut  or  hair 
on  the  inside  of  your  hook,  and  continue  winding  the  silk  tightly 
round  till  you  have  wrapped  it  about  three  parts  down  the  hook 
Whipping  is  finished  off  by  slipping  the  end  of  the  silk  through  the 
last  circle  and  drawing  it  tight  Knotting,  by  laying  two  pieces  of 
gut  or  hair  together,  one  overlapping  the  other  some  three  inches  or 
so,  then  holding  one  end  in  the  left  hand,  while  forming  a  simple 
slip  knot  on  it;  then  turning  the  other  end  to  the  right,  and  doing 
the  same,  after  that  drawing  the  two  together,  which  makes  the 
knot  complete.  No  direct  pull  will  ever  loosen  this  water-knot, 
though  it  can  be  undone  easily. 

The  common  angleworm  is  a  universal  bait  for  fresh  water 
angling  They  grow  almost  everywhere  except  in  sandy  soils.  The 
common  white  grub  is  also  used  successfully  in  trout  fishing.  They 
are  found  in  fresh-ploughed  earth  and  under  old  stumps,  decaying 
foliage,  etc.  Trout  or  salmon  spawn  will  attract  trout  quicker  than 
any  other  possible  bait,  but  it  is  not  always  to  be  had.  Grasshoppers, 
caterpillars,  flies,  locusts,  beetles,  etc.,  are  also  good  for  trout.  The 
minnow  and  other  small  fish  are  very  popular  live  baits  The  frog 
is  an  excellent  bait  for  pickerel  They  are  sometimes  used  whole, 
but  when  the  hind  legs  are  used  they  should  be  skinned  The  crab 
and  also  the  clam  is  often  used  in  northern  waters 


THE  ART  OF  FISHING.  43 


Baits  are  preserved  in  various  ways  Angle  ^orms  can  be  retained 
fresh  and  active  by  packing  them  in  an  earthen  pot  with  common 
moss.  The  moss  should  first  be  washed  in  clean  water  and  pressed 
almost  dry  Every  three  or  four  days  the  washing  must  be  repeated, 
by  which  process  the  worms  may  be  kept  in  excellent  condition  for 
as  long  a  time  as  desired. 

SALMON  and  TROUT  ROE  are  tempting  baits  for  many  other 
fresh  water  fish  besides  the  trout.  Old  fishermen  preserve  it  as  f  ollows 
First  put  it  in  warm  water,  not  hot  enough  to  scald  much — then 
separate  the  membranous  films — rinse  it  well  in  cold  water  and  hang 
it  up  to  dry  The  next  day  salt  it  with  two  ounces  of  salt  and  a 
quarter  of  an  ounce  of  saltpetre  to  the  pound  of  roe.  Let  it  stand 
another  day  and  then  spread  it  to  dry.  When  it  becomes  stiff  put 
it  in  small  pots,  pouring  over  each  some  melted  mutton  tallow.  You 
can.  then  use  a  pot  of  preparation  as  you  may  want  it  for  bait.  It  is 
excellent  for  almost  any  fry  in  fresh  water. 

PASTE  BAITS  are  made  as  follows:  Shrimp  paste  is  made  from 
shrimps,  being  prepared  in  every  respect  similar  to  the  salmon-roe, 
oefore  given.  Wheat,  rye,  barley  and  other  grains,  soaked  in  water 
and  then  boiled  in  milk,  are  good  baits  for  small  fish  in  still  water 
Soft  bread  and  honey,  kneaded  together,  is  also  good.  Grated 
cheese  worked  into  paste  with  soft  bread,  honey,  and  saffron,  is  fre- 
quently used. 

The  PIKE  or  PICKEREL  is  fond  of  shady  places,  and  in  summer 
he  frequents  the  parts  of  the  stream  nearest  where  the  pickerel  weed 
grows.  Pickerel  generally  spawn  in  March  or  April.  In  winter  they 
get  under  rocks,  or  stumps,  or  into  convenient  deep  holes,  and  they 
can  be  taken  then  with  small  live  fish  bait.  In  rivers  you  can  gen 
erally  catch  pickerel  near  the  mouth  of  some  small  stream  empty  ing 
into  the  river ,  the  fall  of  the  year  is  the  best  time  for  catching 
them.  In  the  hot  summer  months  they  seldom  bite  at  all,  except, 
perhaps,  on  a  very  windy  day.  In  the  fall,  too,  they  are  in  better 
condition  In  the  more  northern  waters  they  are  sometimes  taken 
as  early  as  August. 

The  tackle  generally  used  for  pickerel,  is  a  stiff  ten  foot  rod,  with  a 
reel  and  some  50  01  60  yards  of  flax  line,  which  should  be  protected 
near  the  hook  with  gimp  or  wire  The  Limerick  or  Kirby  salmon 
hook  is  used.  The  size  is  0  to  5,  according  to  the  size  of  the  fish, 
lu  a  running  stream ,  both  the  sinker  and  float  will  be  found  neces- 
sary. The  bait  should  be  a  small  live  fish,  or  frog,  or  the  hind  leg 


44  THE   ART   OF  FISHING. 


of  a  frog  skinned.  Worms  are  sometimes  used  in  small  streams, 
where  the  water  is  clear,  and  the  game  small.  In  using  live  bait, 
when  the  pickerel  takes  it,  do  not  draw  your  line  too  quickly.  The 
bait  itself,  if  properly  impaled,  will  be  very  lively  and  will  be  apt 
to  make  a  violent  effort  to  escape  its  enemy.  Inexperienced  ang 
lers  may  take  this  movement  for  a  veritable  bite;  but  when  the 
bite  comes,  there  is  no  mistaking  it.  In  impaling  a  small  fish  for 
bait,  pass  the  hook  under  the  back  fin,  just  under  the  roots  of  its 
rays.  This  will  not  disable  the  fish,  and  it  will  appear  lively  in  the 
water.  When  using  live  frog  bait,  you  pass  the  hook  through  the 
skin  of  the  back  or  belly  or  the  back  muscle  of  the  hind  legs.  The 
live  frog  is  generally  used  on  the  top  of  the  water— if  not,  you  should 
let  him  rise  occasionally  to  take  air,  When  the  pickerel  has 
seized  your  bait,  give  him  plenty  of  time  to  swallow  it,  and  also 
plenty  of  line  Somtimes  he  will  hold  it  in  his  mouth  and  play  with 
it  before  gorging.  On  bringing  him  to  land,  be  careful  of  his  jaws, 
for  he  has  a  set  of  teeth  sharp  as  r^eedles. 

THE  PERCH  spawns  a*  the  end  of  April  or  beginning  of  May, 
depositing  it  upon  weeds,  or  the  branches  of  trees  or  shrubs  that 
have  become  immersed  in  the  water;  it  does  not  come  into  con- 
dition again  until  July.  The  best  time  for  fishing  for  perch  is 
from  September  to  February,  it  haunts  the  neighborhood  of  heavy 
deep  eddies,  camp  sheathings,  beds  of  wreds,  with  sharp  streams 
near,  and  trees  or  bushes  growing  in  or  overhanging  the  water  The 
baits  for  perch  are  minnows,  brandling  or  lob  worms,  and  shrimps. 
The  tackle  should  be  fine  but  strong,  as  with  a  fish  bait  a  trout  or 
pike  may  frequently  be  hooked.  Perch,  unlike  fish  of  prey,  are  gre- 
garious, and  in  the  winter  months  when  the  frosts  and  floods  have 
destroyed  and  carried  away  the  beds  of  weeds,  congregate  together 
in  the  pools  and  eddies,  and  are  then  to  be  angled  for  with  greatest 
success  from  10  to  4  o'clock  at  the  edge  of  the  streams  forming 
such  eddies. 

TROUT,  which  are  caught  in  the  numerous  running  streams  of 
the  United  States,  vary  in  color,  appearance  and  size,  with  the 
quality  of  the  soil  pertaining  to  the  streams  they  inhabit.  The 
fish  called  'black  trout,  which  are  found  in  sluggish  muddy 
streams  do  not  belong  properly  to  the  species.  Trout  will  vary 
as  much  in  shape  and  flavor  as  in  the  color.  They  spawn  in  Sep- 
tember and  October,  and  the  time  for  taking  them  is  in  the  Spring 
and  Summer.  You  may  fish  lor  trout  until  the  20th  of  August, 


THE  ART   OF  FISHING.  45 


though  the  finest  ones  are  taken  in  the  months  of  May  and  June. 
They  bite  the  best  in  March  and  April . 

You  can  hook  trout  in  several  ways.  Some  prefer  fly  fishing,  and 
this  is  the  most  interesting  mode  in  summer.  The  rod  to  be  used 
should  be  light,  and  the  line  made  of  hair,  or  silk  .  The  fly  should 
be  placed  on  a  length  of  gut,  or  a  single  light  hair.  Do  not  fish  with 
your  back  to  the  sun.  Stand  as  far  from  the  stream  as  circumstances 
will  allow.  Always  throw  your  line  from  you — never  whip  it  out. 
Fly-fishing  is  only  suitable  for  pleasant  weather.  The  best  time 
of  day  is  early  in  the  morning  or  just  at  sunset.  The  line  should 
be  about  half  as  long  again  as  the  rod.  It  should  be  thrown  up 
stream,  and  let  the  fly  gradually  float  down,  and  if  possible  fall 
into  the  eddies  where  the  fish  are  apt  to  retreat  in  case  of  alarm.  Let 
your  line  fall  into  the  stream  lightly  and  naturally,  and  when  you 
raise  it,  do  so  gently  and  by  degrees.  Only  a  small  part  of  the  line 
is  allowed  to  be  in  the  water.  The  end,  or  leader,  should,  as  before 
stated,  be  a  single  light  hair,  if  you  can  get  one,  as  the  trout  is  ex- 
tremely shy  and  suspicious.  If  you  stand  on  the  bank  of  the 
stream,  throw  your  line  as  far  up  as  possible,  as  you  cannot  expect 
to  catch  a  trout  opposite  or  below  where  you  are  standing.  If 
bushes  intervene  between  you  and  the  stream,  (which  is  all  the  bet- 
ter,) do  not  rustle  them  or  make  a  noise. 

The  usual  length  of  a  rod  for  trouting  is  fourteen  feet,  though 
longer  or  shorter  ones  may  be  used,  according  to  fancy  or  conven- 
ience. The  bottom  of  the  line,  unless  you  have  a  light  hair,  should 
be  strong  silk-worm  gut.  The  size  of  the  hook  will  depend  upon 
your  flies.  Nos.  4  and  5  are  used  for  worms  and  beetles,  and  7  to  9 
for  small  flies.  If  the  flies  are  too  small,  put  two  on  the  hook,  as 
these  insects  frequently  fall  into  the  water  in  couples.  The  largest 
and  best  trout  lie*  in  shallow  water,  faced  up  stream,  or  else  they 
lie  near  the  surface.  They  are  found  on  the  south,  or  shady  side 
of  the  stream.  It  is  necessary  to  be  exceedingly  cautious  not  to 
show  yourself,  for  if  they  see  you  they  vanish  for  the  day.  Grass- 
hoppers and  other  small  field  insects  are  frequently  used  with  sue  • 
cess  when  other  baits  fail. 

Worm-Pishing  for  trout  is  practiced  with  similar  caution.  Af- 
ter a  rain,  when  the  water  of  tha  brook  is  a  little  riley,  you  can 
catch  trout  by  this  mode — sometimes  very  rapidly.  It  is  usually 
practiced  in  the  spring.  A  single  split  shot  will  generally  be  enough 
to  sink  your  line,  unless  the  stream  is  deep  and  rapid.  The  rod 


46  THE  ART  OF  FISHING. 


should  be  of  bamboo,  16  to  20  feet  long,  and  the  line  shorter  than 
the  rod.  Keep  the  point  of  your  rod  exactly  above  the  bait,  steadily 
following  it,  as  the  bait  drags  along  the  bottom.  When  the  fish 
takes  the  bait,  do  not  let  him  run  with  it,  but  keep  a  steady  hand. 
Do  not  jerk,  but  play  gradually  with  him.  II  the  day  be  clear,  and 
the  stream  shallow,  the  best  way  is  to  wade  up  the  stream  cauti- 
ously, throwing  your  line  far  up,  and  letting  it  come  gradually  to- 
wards you.  The  fish  always  heads  up  stream,  and  you  should  not 
fail  to  remember  if  he  once  sees  you  he  vanishes. 

Bottom  Fishing  with  blue-bottle  flies  is  practiced  as  follows:— 
Use  a  silk  or  fine  hair  line,  with  gut  leader,  and  a  small  quill-float. 
Hook  No.  10  is  about  the  proper  size.  You  will  want  one  or  two 
split  shot  on  the  line.  Fill  a  glass  bottle  with  the  common  blue- 
bottle-fly. Bait  your  hook  with  two  of  these  flies,  and  let  it  sink 
nearly  to  the  bottom.  In  this  way  you  may  catch  trout  in  ponds, 
or  deep  water  deposited  by  running  streams,  and  often  in  the  slack 
water  of  mill  dams,  when  you  could  not  catch  them  in  the  stream 
itself.  This  kind  of  trout  fishing  is  practiced  in  July  and  August. 

When  neither  fly-fishing  nor  bottom-fishing  can  be  practiced,  in 
consequence  of  forbidding  circumstances  of  water  and  season, 
trolling  can  be  resorted  to  as  an  excellent  substitute.  Trolling  is 
divided  into  three  parts,  viz:  sinking  and  roving,  trolling  with  gauge 
and  snap-hooks  and  spinning.  Sinking  and  roving  is  practiced  with 
a  live  bait;  a  minnow  or  roach  for  the  common  trout  or  perch; 
bleak,  gudgeon,  dace,  or  roach,  for  pike  or  large  trout.  The  best 
general  bait  for  all  sorts  of  trolling  is  the  gudgeon.  The  rod  used 
should  be  a  long  bottom  one,  with  a  good  winch,  and  prepared 
plaited  silk  trolling  line.  For  foot  line,  about  a  yard  and  a  half  of 
the  best  gut.  The  link  to  which  the  hook  is  tied,  should  be  of  fine 
gimp,  if  pike  are  sought  for;  but  gut,  or  three-twisted  hairs,  will  do 
for  trout  and  perch.  The  baits  must  be  strong  and  lively,  and 
placed  on  the  hooks  with  as  little  injury  to  them  as  possible.  Allow 
the  bait  to  swim  here  and  there,  generally  at  mid-water,  but  in  deep 
plact  s,  deeper,  drawing  it  up  gently  to  the  surface  now  and  then, 
letting  it  sink  again,  and  guiding  it  to  the  best  looking  spots  of  the 
locality.  Snap-baits  are  mostly  used  at  seasons  when  pike  do  not 
feed  with  sufficient  voracity  to  pouch  their  baits  promptly.  Their 
merit  lies  in  allowing  the  troller  to  strike  quickly,  before  the  fastid- 
ious fish,  suspecting  something  wrong,  has  time  to  eject  the  bait 
from  his  mouth.  The  rod  used  must  be  short  and  stiff.  Snap  bait? 


THE  ART  OF  FISHING.  47 


are  two-fold — one,  which  does  not  spring  when  you  strike  the  fish, 
and  the  other  which  does.  The  first- named  consists  of  three  hooks 
— two  large  ones,  tied  back  to  back,  with  their  barbs  pointing  differ- 
ent ways;  and  one  smaller  hook  tied  on  at  the  top  of  the  shanks  of 
the  others,  and  pointing  straight  out  from  them.  The  spring-snap 
is  generally  used  with  dead  bait;  it  requires  deep  insertion  in  the 
bait  to  allow  the  spring  to  act.  which  it  will  not  do  without  some 
considerable  resistance.  Spinning  is  a  dashing,  killing  method  of 
angling,  and  the  practice  of  it  requires  considerable  muscular  exer- 
tion. The  best  spinning  rod  is  made  of  a  single  piece  of  East  India 
mottled  cane,  fourteen  or  sixteen  feet  long,  well  ringed,  with  a  screw 
winch,  requiring  no  winch  fittings.  With  a  rod  of  this  description, 
large  trout  can  be  trolled  for  in  the  deepest  and  widest  waters.  In 
narrow  streams,  the  angler  can  spin  with  a  very  small  portion  of 
line  out,  and  almost  avoid  casting,  the  length  of  the  rod  allowing 
the  bait  to  be  dropped  noiselessly  wherever  it  is  wished,  and  to 
spin  it  accordingly.  The  baits  used  in  spinning  should  be  of  the 
most  brilliant  colors,  the  brightest  minnows,  or  gudgeons,  you  can 
procure.  The  hooks  used  in  spinning  should  be  of  the  bright  steel 
color  of  the  wire,  not  changed  to  the  ordinary  blue  hue  of  hooks; 
and  they  should  be  whipped  on  with  light  colored  silk,  waxed  with 
white  wax.  You  can  use  the  live  bait,  or  an  artificial  bait,  as  is 
convenient.  Some  sportsmen  are  very  fortunate  with  the  artificial 
bait.  A  stiff  rod  and  reel,  with  the  same  tackle  as  before  described, 
and  no  sinker — is  all  that  is  required.  The  boat  should  move  gently, 
and  let  your  line  drag  far  in  the  rear.  With  artificial  bait  the  fish 
is  hooked  almost  instantly.  If  you  use  live  bait  be  exceedingly  care- 
ful in  determining  when  the  fish  has  gorged  it.  You  should  give 
him  several  minutes  after  he  has  seized  it,  for  this  purpose.  On  see 
ing  the  bait,  a  pickerel  will  generally  run  off  with  it,  and  will  then 
stop  to  gorge  it,  but  does  not  always  do  so.  The  sign  that  he  has 
swallowed  it,  is  a  peculiar  slackening  of  the  line,  which  experienced 
anglers  can  easily  understand.  But  if  he  has  not  gorged  the  bait,  he 
will  soon  start  on  a  second  time,  and  sometimes  will  stop  and  start 
off  the  third  time.  In  these  cases,  you  should  never  be  in  a  hurry. 
When  you  are  convinced  that  he  has  taken  down  the  bait,  draw  a 
tight  line,  and  strike  for  your  fish.  If  he  is  large,  you  should  play 
with  him  until  he  is  quite  exhausted,  or  you  may  lose  him  in  the 
attempt  to  land.  The  difficulty  of  taking  a  pickerel  from  the  hook 
may  be  obviated  in  a  measure  by  gagging  him.  For  this  purpose  some 


48  THE  ART  OF  FISHING. 


anglers  provide  themselves  with  prepared  sticks  of  various  lengths. 
If  the  hook  is  completely  swallowed,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  open 
the  stomach  in  the  middle,  cut  away  the  hook,  and  slipping  the 
knot  that  holds  the  gimp,  draw  it  out  that  way  rather  than  through 
the  mouth. 

BLACK  BASS— the  small-mouthed  variety,"  says  a  well  known 
angler,  "  is  the  only  fish  worthy  of  being  called  a  substitute  for  the 
trout  and  salmon.  One  of  the  most  prolific  and  hardy  fish,  living 
and  thriving  in  waters  where  no  member  of  the  salmon  family  could 
survive,  the  small-mouthed  black  bass  is  without  doubt  the  coming 
game  fish  of  this  country.  There  is  yet  much  ignorance  of  its  hab- 
its and  characteristics,  even  among  sportsmen  who  are  supposed  to 
be  'up'  in  all  things  pertaining  to  game  fish'.''' 

There  are  many  ways  of  fishing  for  the  black  bass,  the  most  scien- 
tific and  sportsmanlike,  but  the  most  unsatisfactory  as  to  results  as 
a  general  thing,  being  fly-fishing.  Trolling,  both  with  minnow  and 
spoon,  is  a  favorite  style  of  fishing  for  bass,  and  still-fishing  with 
many  varieties  of  bait  is  another.  As  to  fly  fishing,  and  in  fact  all 
kinds  of  fishing  for  bass,  there  is  a  great  diversity  of  opinion  among 
sportsmen,  arising  from  the  fact  that  locality  has  much  to  do  with 
determining  the  best  taking  methods.  That  special  flics  for  partic- 
ular waters  are  necessary,  all  experience  and  observation  have 
settled  beyond  dispute,  and,  therefore,  the  fly  fisherman  needs  to 
observe  the  prevailing  conditions  of  the  locality  where  he  intends 
to  cast  his  lines  if  he  would  have  the  aroma  of  a  bass  in  his  basket. 
"The  state  of  the  weather,  wind,  clouds,  sun,  and  water,"  says  a 
veteran  bass  fisherman,  "  and  the  special  food  the  bass  are  seeking, 
on  the  day,  all  have  to  be  considered."  Generally,  early  in  the 
season,  where  the  water  is  high  and  discolored — speaking  now  as  to 
streams — light-colored,  white,  and  gray  flies  and  bright  tinsel - 
bodied  flies  are  the  most  enticing.  Later,  dark  brown,  black,  green, 
and  orange-bodied  flies  are  the  most  attractive.  Although  there  are 
hundreds  of  varieties  of  combinations  of  the  colors  used  in  making 
bass-flies,  Seth  Green  says  that  there  are  really  only  four  different 
flies  necessary  for  successful  bass-fishing — provided,  of  course,  that 
the  angler  knows  how  to  use  them.  These  four  are  the  Grizzly 
King,  the  Gov.  Alvord,  the  Seth  Green,  and  a  fly  made  with  white 
goose  feathers  wings,  red  worsted  body,  wound  with  tinsel,  grizzly 
hackle,  with  red  on  his  tail.  These  four  flies  are  used  all  at  once  on 
the  leader  in  the  following  order:  The  upper  fly  on  the  leader  is  the 


THE  ART  OF  FISHING.  49 


last  one  mentioned  above,  the  next  the  Grizzly  King,  and  the  lower 
flies  the  Alvord  and  the  Seth  Green.  The  Ferguson — a  peacock, 
yellow  and  scarlet  combination — and  the  Page  fly,  a  scarlet  and 
guinea  feather  pattern,  are  also  good.  They  may  be  procured  at  any 
tackle  store,  but  the  trouble  generally  with  these  ready-made  flies 
is  that  they  are  tied  on  hooks  of  too  large  size.  For  Seth  Green  flies 
the  hook  should  be  no  larger  than  a  No.  1.  A  Sproat  No.  2,  or  Lim- 
erick No.  1  is  the  proper  size  for  a  Ferguson  fly. 

The  baits  that  are  used  in  still-fishing  for  black  bass  are  numerous 
and  varied.  The  live  minnow,  the  common  angle  worm,  grasshop- 
per, crickets,  beetles,  frogs,  fresh  water  mussels,  cray-fish,  shrimp, 
and  there  is  no  rule  for  deciding  which  of  these  lures  is 
the  best,  for  one  day  the  bass  will  give  everything  the  go-by  for 
the  angle-worm,  the  next  the  clipper  will  be  his  choice,  another  day 
the  grasshopper,  and  so  on.  The  black  bass  is  the  most  capricious 
fish  in  this  respect  that  swims,  and  so  it  behooves  the  angler  to  have 
a  variety  of  baits  in  his  boat,  and  in  good  condition,  for,  while  the 
bass  is  a  thorough  gormandizer,  he  is  particular  as  to  the  serving  of 
his  feasts. 

Still-fishing,  so  called  because  the  angler  remains  stationary  in  a 
boat  anchored  in  the  fishing  ground  or  fishes  from  the  shore,  is  the 
simplest,  but  most  commonplace  and  unexciting  of  all  the  methods 
employed  to  kill  bass.  A  twelve-foot  rod,  not  too  stiff,  a  strong  line, 
as  inconspicuous  as  possible  in  the  water,  and  a  hook  neither  too 
large  nor  too  small— say  a  No.  1,  and  a  large  fund  of  patience  make 
up  the  outfit  of  the  still-fisherman. 

A  black  bass  always  swallows  a  minnow  head  first.  The  minnow 
should  be  hooked  through  the  back  from  side  to  side,  above  the 
backbone,  just  forward  of  the  dorsal  fin.  If  the  hook  strikes  the 
backbone  the  minnow  will  soon  die;  if  not,  he  will  live  and  be 
lively  for  a  long  time.  Many  anglers  prefer  to  use  a  cork  or  bobbin 
on  their  lines  to  gauge  the  depth  of  water,  as  it  is  best  to  have  the 
minnow  a  foot  or  so  above  the  bottom.  The  error  that  inexperienced 
anglers  for  bass  make,  when  their  bait  is  struck,  is  that  when  they 
see  their  line  rushing  away,  and  feel  the  strike  of  the  fish,  they 
"  pull  up."  They  never  get  their  bass,  and  for  an  excellent  reason. 
When  a  bass  goes  for  a  minnow,  it  goes  like  a  railroad  train,  and 
striking  the  bait,  carries  it  four  or  five  feet  before  the  impetus  of 
the  rush  is  overcome.  Then  it  stops,  and  then  the  tyro  thinks  his 
time  is  come  to  hook  his  fish,  but  he  simply  jerks  the  hook  away 


50  THE   ART  OF   FISHING. 

from  it.  When  the  bass  stops  he  shifts  the  minnow  in  his  mouth  to 
get  it  head  downward,  proceeds  to  swallow  it,  and  then  moves  away. 
At  this  moment  the  angler  should  give  a  quick  jerk,  not  a  "swishy" 
pull  of  his  line  out  of  the  water,  and  he  can  safely  bet  that  his  bass 
is  hooked. 

In  fishing  with  cray-fish  the  bait  must  not  be  kept  suspended  in 
the  water  like  the  minnow,  because  the  cray-fish  lives  on  the  bot- 
tom, and  is  there  sought  by  the  bass.  A  great  annoyance  in  fishing 
with  cray-fish  is  their  tendency  to  crawl  under  stones  and  logs.  A 
good  plan  to  prevent  this,  in  a  measure,  is  to  cripple  the  cray 
fish  by  breaking  off  one  of  its  claws  A  bass  always  swallows  a 
cray-fish  tail  first.  The  hook  should  be  placed  in  under  the  bottom 
of  the  tail,  near  the  body,  and  brought  through  to  the  back.  The 
same  precaution  is  necessary  when  the  bass  strikes  a  cray-fish  as  is 
required  with  the  minnow  if  the  angler  would  be  successful  in  hook- 
ing his  fish.  If  fishing  from  a  boat,  the  angler  should  throw  his 
bait  as  far  from  him  as  possible,  and  the  finer  his  tackle  the  more 
likely  he  is  to  secure  a  good  catch.  With  angle-worm,  grasshopper, 
or  the  other  small  baits,  the  bass  in  striking  usually  takes  them  en- 
tire into  his  mouth  at  once,  but  even  with  them  it  is  safer  to  wait 
for  the  second  moving  away  of  the  bass  before  the  attempt  to  hook 
him  is  made.  The  black  bass  angler  should  remember,  also,  that 
from  June  until  September  the  best  fishing  is  in  deep  water  or  under 
the  shadow  of  dams  or  falls.  In  September  and  October  they  live 
more  in  rapid  deep  currents,  lying  in  eddies  formed  by  bowlders,  tree 
roots,  or  half  submerged  logs.  In  lakes  they  lie  where  the  shores 
and  bottoms  are  rocky,  and  among  the  weeds  and  lily-pads.  In 
trolling  with  a  spoon  the  latter  should  be  small  and  attractive. 

As  a  rule  bass  will  not  rise  to  the  surface  for  the  fly,  and  this  is  one 
reason  that  fly  fishermen,  unacquainted  with  the  customs  of  the  fish, 
and  angling  for  it  after  the  manner  of  casting  for  trout,  have  uni- 
formly failed  of  success  with  bass,  and  voted  bass  fishing  a  humbug. 
The  brightest  fly  should  be  the  highest  on  the  leader,  and  the  flies 
should  be  sunk  nearly  to  the  bottom,  and  trolled  upward.  The  bass 
invariably  darts  for  the  bright  fly,  but,  seeing  the  others  on  his  way 
up,  takes  one  or  the  other  of  them.  If  it  is  one  of  the  upper  flies, 
the  chances  are  that  before  the  fish  is  landed,  another  bass  will  have 
taken  one  of  the  flies  below  it,  and  the  angler  will  find  his  skill  taxed 
to  the  utmost  by  two  of  the  hardest  fighting  fish  in  American 
waters.  If  the  first  bass  is  hooked  on  the  lower  fly,  however,  there 


THE  ART   OF  FISHING.  51 


will  be  no  strike  by  the  second  fish.  While,  as  a  rule,  the  bass  will 
not  rise  to  the  surface  for  the  fly,  there  are  exceptions  to  the  rule, 
especially  on  the  edge  of  swift  water,  or  of  pools  at  the  foot  of  dams 
or  falls.  Instances  have  been  known  of  black  bass  rushing  out  of 
the  water  to  meet  the  fly.  But  the  surest  way  of  taking  bass  with  a 
fly  is  trolling  beneath  the  surface.  When  casting  for  black  bass  in 
a  river  where  there  is  a  current,  the  flies  should  be  thrown  abreast 
of  the  current.  As  they  swing  around  with  it,  keep  the  line  taut 
and  let  them  be  carried  with  the  water.  When  they  have  dropped 
to  a  position  immediately  below  the  angler,  he  should  draw  them 
toward  him  gently,  and  if  there  is  a  bass  within  sight  of  the  gaudy 
lures  it  will  make  its  presence  known.  The  casts  should  be  contin- 
ued in  that  order  until  the  angler  is  satisfied  he  is  having  his  labor 
for  his  pains. 

The  Muskalonge. 

The  Muskalonge  belongs  to  the  pike  family,  and  is  the  largest  of 
fresh-water  fish,  frequently  weighing  from  thirty  to  sixty  pounds. 
Similar  rules  and  precautions  should  be  observed  in  fishing  for  this 
"the  wolf  of  the  waters"  as  are  required  for  pike  and  pickerel. 
Trolling  is  almost  universally  practiced,  either  with  hand-line  or,  if 
the  fisherman  be  an  expert,  with  rod  and  reel,  and  in  each  case  with 
a  No.  8  Slzinner  or  similar  spoon. 

The  Northern  Pike. 

The  species  known  as  northern  pike  is  somewhat  similar  to  the 
muskalonge,  though  the  markings  are  entirely  different.  He  does 
not  grow  to  so  large  a  size  as  the  muskalonge  and  is  only  found  in 
northern  lakes.  He  is  one  of  the  gamiest  of  fresh  water  fish.  He 
fights  like  a  wild-cat  from  the  time  he  is  hooked  until  he  is  landed, 
or  escapes,  while  the  common  pike  or  pickerel,  makes  a  spurt  or 
two  when  first  hooked,  and  then  allows  you  to  drag  him  in  as  you 
\vould  a  chunk. 

The  Sucker. — (Carp.) 

The  sucker,  like  the  cat-fish,  and  flounder,  rather  prefers  streams 
•with  muddy  bottoms,  but  it  appears  that  they  will  thrive  in  almost 
any  fresh  water,  and  it  will  not  be  long  before  angling  for  carp  in 
our  northern  waters  will  become  quite  common,  through  the 
"plants"  of  the  fish  commissioners. 


52  THE   ART   OF  FISHING. 


Carp  should  be  fished  for  with  a  line  some  fifty  feet  in  length, 
done  up  on  a  reel,  and  without  a  pole.  There  should  be  six  or  seven 
hooks  on  the  line,  baited  with  stale  light  bread  which  will  float  on 
the  surface  of  the  water,  where  the  carp  comes  to  suck  it  down. 
When  they  have  taken  the  bait  and  begin  to  feel  the  hook,  they 
start  off.  Then  reel  up  the  line,  playing  them  until  they  are 
worried  out  and  are  ready  for  landing.  When  one  is  caught,  the 
others  become  very  shy,  and  can  not  be  induced  to  come  near  for 
some  little  time. 

The  Grayling. 

This  beautiful  fish,  only  in  America,  to  be  found  in  the  waters  of 
Northern  Michigan,  is  of  a  purplish  gray  color,  with  silvery  white 
belly,  and  small,  bluish-black,  irregular  spots  on  the  sides.  The  dor- 
sal fin,  which  is  very  large,  has  along  its  insertion  a  black  line,  next 
comes  one  of  rosy  pink,  then  a  black  one,  and  a  final  one  of  peach 
blooming  tint.  Beginning  at  the  sixth  ray  is  a  row  of  dull  green 
spots,  then  a  row  of  fifty -six  very  small  ray  spots,  and  lastly  a  band 
of  dusky  hue.  The  average  length  of  this  beauty  is  about  ten  inches, 
but  he  has  the  strength  and  dash  and  gaminess  of  a  young  whale. 
The  grayling,  unlike  the  trout,  loves  the  clear,  sandy  bottom,  where 
the  water  is  pure  and  not  very  swift  or  deep.  They  are  found  in 
schools,  almost  beyond  number,  lying  side  by  side,  with  those  many- 
colored  dorsal  fins  waving  like  rainbow  banners  in  a  gentle  breeze. 
Make  a  motion  or  a  sound,  and  they  are  off  like  a  thousand  flashes 
of  prismatic  sunshine,  only  to  return  when  the  scare  is  over.  Wade 
into  the  stream  above  them,  drop  your  fly  into  the  water  and  let  it 
quietly  float  down  over  their  pool.  There  is  a  sudden  twirl,  a  wild 
rush  in  the  region  of  your  fly,  and  you  have  hooked  the  prince  royal 
of  piscatorial  prizes.  Carefully  give  him.  the  line,  always  keeping 
it  "  taut,"  and  if  you  have  two  or  more  flies  on  your  line,  the 
chances  are  that  you  will  speedily  have  a  fish  for  every  fly,  and  then 
the  battle  begins.  They  fight  desperately  for  life  and  liberty,  and 
it  requires  a,ll  the  skill  imaginable  to  handle  and  land  them.  When 
the  "  playing"  is  done  and  the  fish  tired  out  with  their  struggles, 
they  will  lie  almost  motionless  on  the  "water  as  you  reel  them  in. 
Slip  your  landing  net  with  the  greatest  care  under  them,  and  your 
triumph  is  complete.  The  prettiest  and  gamiest  fish  of  the  new 
world  lies  like  an  animated  prism  in  your  basket. 


FISHING  IN  THE  GREAT  LAKES. 


A  large  proportion  of  the  inhabitants  residing  upon  the  shores  of 
Lake  Superior,  Michigan  and  Huron,  are  fishermen  by  profession, 
earning  their  living,  not  in  the  manner  of  the  disciples  of  Isaac 
Walton,  but  by  the  use  of  pound  nets.  The  ordinary  angler  when 
he  casts  Lis  line  in  these  great  waters  looks  and  feels  exa&peratingly 
diminutive  by  the  side  of  these  wholesale  fish  butcheries.  It  has 
been  estimated  that  Lake  Superior  alone  produces  annually  over 
two  million  white-fish  and  trout,  say  nothing  of  the  other  varieties 
taken,  which  would  certainly  number  together  another  million. 

The  labor  and  capital  required  in  managing  these  fisheries  is  far 
greater  than  is  generally  supposed.  The  "  plants  "  are  usually  made 
in  deep  water,  sometimes  to  the  depth  of  eighty  or  ninety  feet. 
The  places  selected  for  planting  pound  nets  is  at  the  edge  of  banks 
or  shoals  where  the  water  rapidly  deepens.  Here  the  fish  rise  and 
seek  the  edge  of  the  shoal  in  quest  of  small  fish,  on  which  they 
feed.  The  "pot"  of  the  net  is  shaped  like  a  heart,  and  wings  are 
extended  from  the  larger  end  of  the  heart,  where  there  is  an  orifice 
for  the  fish  to  enter  In  groping  for  the  edge  of  the  bank,  the  fish 
strike  the  wings,  and,  feeling  along  the  wall  of  thread,  they  are  soon 
entrapped  in  the  heart,  and  are  too  unwise  to  contrive  how  to 
escape.  The  net  is  fastened  to  the  bottom  and  kept  in  place  by 
stakes  or  long  slim  poles  of  tamarack  or  maple,  often  ninety  or  a 
hundred  feet  in  length.  These  have  to  be  driven  into  the  bottom 
six  to  eight  feet. 

These  stakes  are  peeled  and  smooth,  so  that  rings,  fastened  in  the 
end  of  the  net,  can  run  easily  on  them,  up  and  down.  When  it  is 
desired  to  "lift"  a  catch,  three  or  four  men  go  out  in  u pound 
boats,"  a  craft  as  large  as  a  yawl,  and  flat  bottomed,  and  gradually 
raise  the  edges  of  the  heart  or  pot  of  the  net.  They  are  generally 
rewarded  with  finding  therein  a  flopping,  plunging  mass  of  trout 


54  THE  ART   OF  FISHING. 


and  whitefish,  varying  veiy  little  in  size  and  weight.  A  good  lift 
is  from  twelve  hundred  to  two  thousand  pounds.  At  six  cents  a 
pound  a  lift  is  not  an  unprofitable  job;  in  fact  it  is  a  lift  of  the  kind 
men  talk  about  oftener  than  they  make.  There  are  many  men 
along  these  shores  that  have  become  wealthy  in  the  fishing  line. 
Some  of  ihem  have  a  large  capital  invested  in  the  business.  The 
smaller  fishermen  use  gill -nets,  but  their  catch  is  smaller  and  not  so 
valuable.  The  cost  of  planting  an  ordinary  pound-net,  including 
material,  is  eight  hundred  dollars. 

For  fishing  in  waters  where  sturgeon  is  a  specialty,  an  inch  line 
a  mile  or  more  in  length,  containing  perhaps  three  or  four  thousand 
hooks  arranged  on  "snoods"  of  the  proper  length  is  often  used. 
Large  buoys  are  attached  to  the  main  line  at  intervals  of  about  ten 
feet  in  order  to  keep  it  on  the  surface.  Men  follow  along  the  line  at 
regular  hours  attending  to  the  "catch,"  detaching  the  fish,  rebait- 
ing,  etc.,  until  a  boat  load  is  secured,  when  a  return  to  the  shore  is 
in  order. 


Winter  Fishing. 

Spearing  fish  through  a  hole  in  the  ice,  practiced  more  or  less  in 
all  parts  of  the  country,  although  fascinating  in  the  extreme,  is  not 
recognized  as  legitimate  sport  by  those  who  engage  in  the  diversions 
of  the  rod  and  line  during  the  warm  months  only.  If  this  is  ille- 
gitimate then  what  can  be  said  of  the  wholesale  manner  of  "  net- 
ting "  fish  under  the  ice,  now  largely  practiced  in  all  the  Great 
Lakes. 

The  professional  fisherman  does  his  work  systematically,  and 
usually  without  much  discomfort,  even  if  the  thermometer  does 
range  from  ten  to  twenty  degrees  below  zero.  He  first  erects  upon 
the  ice  a  small  shanty,  or  a  wigwam  if  the  fisherman  should  happen 
to  be  an  Indian,  as  is  often  the  case.  Within  he  keeps  a  good  fire, 
either  in  a  cheap  stove  or  directly  upon  the  ice.  The  fisherman 
himself  is  always  warmly  clothed  with  a  triple  supply  of  shirts  and 
socks.  The  boots  that  he  wears  are  of  felt,  with  rubbers  outside. 


THE  ART  OF  FISHING.  55 


Moccasins  are  often  worn  over  heavy  German  socks,  and  in  these  it 
is  said  the  feet  never  get  cold.  An  industrious  fisherman  will  al 
ways  associate  himself  with  one  or  more  of  his  neighbors,  thereby 
facilitating  the  handling  of  the  finny  game.  A  co-partnership  of 
this  kind  will  often  manage  a  number  of  nets,  each  of  which  they 
visit  daily  to  make  "a  lift,"  as  the  process  of  examining  the  nets  is 
called.  When  a  sufficient  number  of  fish  are  accumulated  "to 
make  a  load,"  all  of  which  are  frozen  stiff  the  moment  they  are 
taken  from  the  water,  they  are  packed  or  carried  loosely  in  a  rough 
sled,  or  toboggan,  by  two  or  three  dogs,  to  the  nearest  fish- buyer. 

A  fisherman  who  is  too  poor  to  own  a  net,  often  goes  angling  or 
'bobbing"  as  it  is  locally  called.     Others  also  "go  bobbing"  for 
the  sport  it  affords.     The  same  perseverance  and  luck  attend  them 
here  as  usually  characterize  their  efforts  in  summer  angling. 

A  small  round  hole  is  made  in  the  ice,  through  which  the  fisher- 
man drops  his  line,  carrying  a  large  hook,  baited  with  a  small 
herring,  a  piece  of  pork,  or  other  meat.  When  the  right  depth  of 
water  is  reached  he  does  not  have  to  wait  long  for  a  bite.  Then  he 
pulls  out  one  of  the  finny  monsters,  a  huge  trout  perhaps;  if  not, 
then  it  is  a  whitefish  or  a  sturgeon,  for  they  are  almost  as  common. 

Those  who  make  a  business  of  "bobbing"  sometimes  attend  to 
forty  or  fifty  holes.  At  each  of  these  holes  is  placed  a  forked  stick, 
one  prong  holding  the  fish  line,  and  to  the  other  is  attached  a  small 
red  flag.  When  the  fisherman  sees  one  of  the  red  flags  go  down  he 
immediately  rushes  to  the  spot,  and  generally  has  the  satisfaction  of 
pulling  out  a  fish  of  no  mean  proportions.  It  sometimes  makes 
lively  work  for  him,  and  flags  go  down  faster  than  he  can  attend  to 
them. 

The  fisherman's  life  on  the  northern  lakes,  in  some  respects,  is  to 
be  envied.  He  is  active  when  necessity  compels.  He  is  happy 
when  he  has  enough,  and  is  always  independent.  His  labors  are  in- 
variably supplemented  with  a  frolic,  and  his  heart  is  ever  kind 
towards  his  fellow-men.  And  then  how  satisfying  to  eat  the  deli- 
cious whitefish,  cooked  in  the  good  old  way,  fresh  from  the  water, 
solid  and  plump.  The  good  wife  removes  the  skin,  while  the  fish  is 
still  frozen,  the  process  reminding  one  of  peeling  a  banana.  After 
thoroughly  cleaning,  the  snowy  flesh  is  rolled  in  flour  and  then  fried 
with  butter.  Those  who  have  never  eaten  the  far-famed  whitefish, 
dressed  and  cooked  in  its  native  home,  know  not  the  true  delicacy 
of  this,  the  most  palatable  of  all  the  finny  tribes. 


JUDSON  FALLS,  SLATE  RIVER,   NEAR  LAKE  GOGEBIC. 


HOW  TO  SHOOT  WILD  GAME. 


WATER-FOWL. 


Care  must  be  taken  not  to  fire  too  soon,  distance  being  very  decept- 
ive on  water,  many  good  aims  are  made  worthless  through  mis- 
calculation. The  scent  of  the  water-fowl  is  exceedingly  keen 
and  to  get  within  range  it  is  better  to  keep  to  the  leeward,  than  to 
bear  directly  down  upon  them. 

Ducks  are  hunted  with  decoys  in  the  early  spring  and  fall.  Wild 
geese  are  shot  from  behind  screens  on  the  margins  of  lakes  and 
rivers.  The  hunters  decoy  them  by  imitating  their  cries.  Tame 
geese  may  also  be  used  as  decoys. 

Professionals  sometimes  lure  ducks  right  up  to  the  shore,  where 
they  can  literally  butcher  them  at  their  leisure.  It  is  done  by  hav- 
ing on  hand  a  red  blanket,  or  scarf,  or  shirt,  which  is  shaken  in  the 
sedge  near  the  water,  and  if  there  are  any  ducks  near  they  will 
swim  right  toward  it,  so  close  up  that  their  breasts  will  touch  the 
shore.  It  seems  to  fascinate  them.  When  they  are  close  up,  a  man 
may  rise  up  and  cock  his  gun  without  scaring  them  away;  only 
keep  the  red  object  moving  all  the  time.  They  will  swim  around  in 
a  circle,  and  the  gunner,  watching  his  chance,  lets  drive  when  he 
has  a  lot  of  them  in  range,  raking  in  the  greater  part  of  the  flock. 
This  is  commonly  called  playing  them  in.  As  many  as  forty  have 
been  killed  in  that  way  at  one  shot  with  both  barrels.  Those  not 
shot  will  fly  away  a  little  distance,  but  in  half  an  hour  or  so  they 
can  be  played  in  the  same  way,  and  so  on  until  the  flock  is  about 
exterminated.  Young  birds  are  especially  subject  to  be  fascinated 
in  this  way,  and  often  they  can  be  toled  from  a  distance  of  one  hun- 
dred yards  to  the  shore.  A  reddish  colored  dog,  trained  to  run 
backward  and  forward  along  the  beach,  is  excellent  to  attract  them. 
Color  alone  will  not  atract  them,  but  motion  with  it  will.  The  idea  is 
supposed  to  have  come  from  the  foxes.  Old  hunters  tell  of  hav- 
ing seen  a  fox  tole  in  a  flock  of  ducks  by  running  up  and  down  the 


SHOOTING   WILD   FOWL. 


shore  until  they  were  close  enough  for  him  to  snatch  one  by  the 
head  and  make  off  to  the  woods  with  it. 

The  most  successful  way  of  shooting  ducks  and  geese  is  from  a 
battery  or  rig,  as  the  contrivance  is  termed.  To  prepare  a  battery 
take  thirty  or  more  yards  of  light  muslin  or  canvas,  and  with 
oil-color  paint  it  to  look  like  water.  This  is  stretched  on  a  light 
frame,  and  fixed  firmly  on  the  windward  side  of  a  broad  platform 
twelve  feet  long  by  eight  feet  wide.  In  the  center  of  the  platform, 
sunk  below  its  surface  and  level  with  it  at  the  top,  is  a  water  tight 
box,  only  big  enough  for  the  shooter  to  lie  down  in  on  his  back, 
with  his  gun  in  his  hands.  Along  the  platform  are  rows  of  short 
pins,  from  which  depend  a  series  of  weights  that  sink  the  platform 
until  it  does  not  show  more  than  an  inch  or  an  inch  and  a  half  above 
the  surface  of  the  water.  The  painted  canvas  to  windward  keeps 
the  water  from  swashing  over  and  sinking  the  concern.  Then 
around  the  platform  for  thirty  yards  are  placed  over  a  hundred  de- 
coy ducks,  and  the  battery  is  complete.  The  keenest  eye  of  either 
man  or  bird  would  fail  to  descry  its  existence  at  a  little  distance^ 
The  shooter  lies  down  in  the  coffin-like  box,  his  feet  leeward,  witli 
another,  his  tender,  in  a  small  boat  hidden  in  the  sedge  four  or  five 
hundred  feet  away.  The  shooter  is  absolutely  helpless  should  any- 
thing happen  to  him.  His  communication  with  the  tender  must  be 
by  noiseless  signs,  and  there  he  must  lie  and  wait  until  a  flock  of 
ducks,  attracted  by  the  decoys,  come  within  range  Then  he  sits 
up,  blazes  away  at  them  with  both  barrels,  and  sinks  back  to  reload 
and  wait  for  more.  The  dead  ducks  float  off  to  be  gathered  in  by 
the  tender,  who  has  chosen  a  position  with  reference  to  the  direction 
of  the  wind. 

There  are  quite  a  number  of  varieties  of  duck  to  be  met  with  in 
this  section  of  country.  Coots,  the  smallest  of  all  the  species,  are 
rather  numerous  and  easily  taken.  Sportsmen  have  killed  hundreds 
of  them  in  a  few  hours.  They  are  a  dumb  sort  of  duck,  and  may  be 
shot  within  a  few  yards.  The  sheldrake  duck  is  a  little  larger  than 
the  coot,  but  is  fishy,  hardly  eatable,  and  not  valuable.  The  broad- 
bill  is  a  good  duck,  medium-sized  and  very  numerous,  yet  old 
sportsmen  say  twenty  used  to  be  killed  for  one  that  is  killed  now.  It 
is  only  a  moderate  day's  sport  to  kill  a  hundred  or  so  from  one  rig, 
but  reliable  hunters  tell  of  killing  as  many  as  350  a  day.  Occasion- 
ally a  man  will  drift  into  a  flock  of  them  and  kill  fifty  to  a  hun- 
dred in  an  hour  or  so. 


SHOOTING   WILD  FOWL.  59 


Next  to  the  broadbills  come  the  black  ducks,  which  feed  in  shoal 
water,  and  do  not  dive  like  the  others.  They  hunt  around  the 
meadows  and  on  shallow  flats,  and  are  very  wild,  and  one  must  hide 
very  carefully  to  get  near  enough  to  them  for  a  shot.  The  red- 
heads,  or  red  headed  broadbills,  follow  the  black  ducks  in  size,  and 
delicacy  of  flavor.  They  are  considered  almost  equal  to  the  canvas- 
backs,  and  rank  next  to  them  in  price.  Of  teal,  which  is  an  excel- 
lent duck  and  in  steady  demand,  there  are  a  great  many,  both  the 
blue-winged  in  summer  and  the  red-winged  in  winter.  There  are 
some  canvas-backs,  but  much  more  numerous  are  the  gray  and  the 
mallard  ducks.  There  are  many  wood-duck  and  widgeon,  and  in 
winter  time  lots  of  whistlers.  Brant  are  scarce  now.  They  used  to 
be  plenty,  and  one  man  thought  nothing  of  killing  forty  or  fifty  a 
day.  They  are  from  one  to  two-thirds  as  large  as  a  goose.  Of  wild 
geese  there  are  still  a  good  many. 

Wood-Cock  Shooting. 

The  shooting  of  the  wood-cock  requires  more  skill  and  experience 
than  any  other  game.  It  is  an  uncertain  bird,  that  requires  careful 
treatment,  but  is  worth  all  the  trouble.  A  team  of  small  spaniels  is 
all  that  is  needed  in  the  way  of  dogs;  as  nearly  everything  depends 
on  the  trigger.  When  the  cover  is  beaten,  look  sharp  for  the  cock, 
as  your  shot  must  depend  very  much  on  his  humor,  whether  he  is 
all  alive  or  sluggish.  Sometimes,  he  will  not  stir  until  fairly 
beaten  out  of  the  cover,  and  then  a  shot  will  bring  him  down. 
Then  again  he  will  be  off  and  away  almost  before  the  cover  has  been 
touched. 

When  in  places  likely  to  hold  a  cock,  towards  evening  try  the 
mosses,  banks  of  rivulets,  and  boggy  bottoms.  At  that  time  the  birds 
are  on  the  'road  '  or  feed,  and,  consequently,  are  more  easily  met 
with  than  when  laid  up  in  the  snug  harbor  of  some  old  osier-bed,  or 
beneath  the  root  of  some  monarch  of  the  forest  When  flushed, 
the  wood-cock  seldom,  if  ever,  pitches  on  feeding  ground. 

"In  the  south,  'fire-hunting  '  is  usually  practiced  by  those  desirirg- 
specimens  of  this  extremely  wily  bird,"  says  a  southern  sportsman, 
u  but  they  seem  to  have  different  habits  there  from  here,  or  at  least 
have  better  opportunities  for  evading  the  hunter  and  preventing  him 
from  enjoying  the  shooting  of  them  from  behind  a  dog.  The 
swamps  and  brakes  are  so  dense  about  the  haunts  of  the  wood- cock 
in  Mississippi  that  it  is  next  to  impossible  to  make  jour  way  into 


60  SHOOTING   WILD  FOWL. 

them,  and  in  these  great  thickets  the  birds  lie  close  all  day.  When 
night  comes,  however,  they  rise  and  seek  the  cultivated  open  lands, 
where  the  soil  is  soft  and  loamy,  and  where  they  feed,  as  they  do 
here,  on.  the  worms  that  find  their  natural  breeding  places  in  such 
soil.  The  outfit  ot  a  fire-hunter  before  the  war  consisted  of  a  gun,  a 
big  pine-knot  torch,  and  the  strongest  slave  on  the  plantation. 
iSmce  the  war  the  slave  has  been  left  out  of  the  outfit,  but  the  tradi 
tion  is  preserved  by  hiring  some  muscular  darkey  to  perform  his 
duties.  The  torch  might  more  appropriately  be  called  a  pillar  of 
fire,  for  it  is  a  fire  made  of  the  fattest  kind  of  pine-knots  in  a  large 
iron  wickerwork  cage,  secured  to  one  end  of  a  stout  pole  twelve  or 
fifteen  feet  high,  and  carried  aloft  by  the  negro.  It  casts  a  bright 
light  over  an  area  of  several  rods  around.  The  hunter  or  hunters, 
as  soon  as  it  is  dark,  proceed  to  the  wood -cock  ground.  The  torch 
bearer  lights  his  pine-knots  and  walks  slowly  along,  The  hunter 
follows  closely.  In  the  bright  light  he  soon  sees  the  lustrous,  stal- 
ing eyes  of  the  wood-cock,  disturbed  in  its  feeding,  fixed  with  a 
startled  look  and  apparent  fascination  on  the  glaring  torch.  Some 
hunters  will  not  wait  for  the  bird  to  rise,  but  will  kill  it  as  it  sits. 
The  more  scientific  gunner  waits  till  it  risec  with  its  peculiar  cry, 
and  brings  it  down  by  a,  quick  shot.  Tho  shot  hac  got  to  be  quick, 
too,  for  the  bird  is  seen  but  a  second  as  it  flashes  upv/ard,  and  ic  then 
lost  in  the  darkness  beyond  the  boundaries  of  the  torch  rays  To 
bring  down  a  wood-cock  before  it  escapee  in  Uic  darkness  requires  a 
hunter  that  Zmowc  his  business.  It  often  happens  that  a  scoro  ex 
birds  will  rise  at  the  same  time  and  whirr  for  an  instant  in  the  glare 
of  the  torch,  c.'iid  co,  generally-  there  are  several  hunters  in.  r,  party, 
and  one  evening's  fire-hunting  may  result  in  tho  oaring  cf  a  hun- 
dred birds  or  more." 

Snipe  Shooting*, 

Snipe  are  to  be  met  with  in  low  mar  shy  "grounds.  In  spring  they 
disperse  themselves  to  higher  and  more  carp  situations.  Snipe- 
shooting  affords  excellent  diversion  5  but  those  who  attempt  it 
should  be  possessed  of  c,  strong  constitution,  and  considerable  forti- 
tude and  energy  j  wot  and  dirt  must  not  be  cared  for,  nor  must  tlie 
coldness  and  severity  of  the  weather  bo  hoeded=  Snipe  are  difficult 
to  hit  when  on  tho  wing,  owing  to  the  irregular  twistings  of  their 
flight;  but  this  difficulty  is  soon  surmounted  if  the  birds  are  allowed 


SHOOTING   WILD   rOWL.  61 


to  reach  to  a  certain  distance,  when  their  flight  becomes  steady  and 
easy  to  traverse  with  the  gun;  there  is  no  reason  to  be  apprehensive 
ot  their  getting  out  of  range  of  the  shot,  as  they  will  fall  to  the  ground 
if  struck  but  slightly  with  the  smallest  grain.  Snipe  like  many 
other  birds  always  lly  against  the  wind;  therefore,  the  sportsman  by 
keeping  the  wind  at  his  back,  has  this  advantage  of  the  bird  when 
it  rises,  that  it  presents  a  fairer  mark.  In  severe  weather,  snipe 
resort  in  numbers  to  warm  springs,  where  the  rills  continue  open 
and  run  with  a  gentle  stream.  These  are  then  the  only  places 
where  they  can  hunt  for  food,  on  account  of  their  long  bills.  Snipe 
fly  better  in  windy  weather  than  in  any  other,  and  as  they  then  usually 
make  a  momentary  halt  or  hanging  on,  that  is  the  time  to  fire.  When 
they  cross,  also,  by  firing  well  forward,  they  seldom  escape.  Snipe 
are  among  the  most  inconstant  of  birds.  A  frosty  night  will  send 
away  the  whole  of  a  flight  that  had  been  there  the  day  before; 
and  again  in  two  days'  time  they  may  return,  if  open  weather  and  a 
dry  wind  succeed,  A  regular  snipe  locality  should  be  tried  not  only 
every  day,  but  twice  a  day,  so  uncertain  are  snipe  in  fixing  them- 
selves even  for  a  day, 

Partridge  or  Grouse  Shooting. 

The  best  time  Tor  partridge  shooting  is  in  the  morning  early,  or 
late  in  tho  afternoon.  Always  endeavor  to  get  cross  shots;  this  may 
usually  be  effected  by  walking  across  or  heading  your  dog  when 
pointing,,  If  you  go  straight  from,  him  to  the  birds,  they  will  gen- 
erally go  straight;  away.  Birds  when  Hjing  across  you,  present  a  far 
easier  shot,  anc!  expose  a  more  vifal  part. 

During  the  crtfizo  season,  the  \.  acr.t-stubbles  are  the  best  spots  for 
holding  partridges  2n  stormc  and  fo^3  partridges  lie  very  close, 
and  in  line  days  which  f oQow  storms.  Heavy  'rains  cause  them  to 
lie  extremely  close;  and  therefore,  as  well  as  for  other  reasons  it 
is  not  favorable  for  sport. 

The  ruffed -grouse  or  pheasant,  pinnated-grouse,  sage-hen,  blue- 
grouse  and  spring-tail  grouse,  arc  only  different  varieties  of  the  part- 
ridge family,  and  have  to  be  hunted  in  about  the  same  manner.  The 
blue-grouse,  a  native  of  mountainous  regions,  is  one  of  the  finest 
game  birds  on  the  continent.  It  is  sometimes  called  the  fool-hen,  a 
designation  no  doubt  given  it  because  of  the  fact  that  a  hunter  may 
stand  and  shoot  fifty  of  them  out  of  a  tree,  one  after  the  other, 


62  SHOOTING   WILD  FOWL. 

without  one  attempting  to  fly  away,  so  long  as  he  begins  at  the  bot- 
tom bird  and  selects  them  in  that  order  on  the  way  up.  If  he  shoots 
one  of  the  upper  birds,  however,  its  fall  will  be  the  signal  for  all  the 
rest  to  fly  and  away  they  go.  The  fool-hen  lives  in  trees  in  the 
winter,  the  same  as  the  ruffed-grouse.  When  startled  they  stand 
erect  on  the  limb  as  motionless  as  a  knot.  While  standing  that  way 
one  may  shoot  at  them  as  many  times  as  he  likes,  but  the  bird  will 
never  move  unless  it  is  hit.  The  pinnated-grouse  or  prairie-hen 
formerly  were  abundant  in  all  parts  of  America,  congregating  prin- 
cipally in  dry  open  districts,  where  patches  ol  brushwood  and  trees 
abound.  They  are  still  plentiful  on  our  north-western  prairies,  in 
season,  and  are  generally  hunted  for  at  early  sunrise. 

Quail    Shooting. 

Of  all  migrating  birds  the  quail  is  most  hiphly  esteemed  for  the 
table,  It  is  nearly  allied  to  the  partridge,  Dut  having  a  more  slender 
bill,  a  shorter  tail,  longer  wings,  no  spur,  and  no  red  space  above  the 
eyec  Quails  excel  partridges  in  their  power  of  flight.  They  never 
perch  on  trees,  invariably  lighting  upon  the  ground  They  are  of  a 
brown  color  streaked  with  different  shades,  and  the  "wings  are 
mottled  with  light-brown,  the  throat  white,  with  dark -brown  bands 
in  the  male.  The  bob-white  and  ruffed-grouse  c.ro  often  eroneously 
called  quail. 

TJie  Loon. 

We  will  hardly  dare  say  "loon  shooting, "  for  it  is  very  seldom 
that  one  is  shot.  He  is  the  hardest  of  all  birds  to  hit.  His 
quickness  is  amazing.  He  will  dodge  a  rifle  ball  by  diving  after  he 
sees  the  flash,  and  this  at  a  distance  not  gr^nto-  than  eight  rods.  A 
friend  of  the  writer  once  succeeded  in  hitting  one  with  a  bullet  at 
long  range  by  creeping  through  thick  clover  toward  a  small  and  se- 
lect company  of  these  wild  birds  that  were  having  a  little  picnic  of 
their  own  in  the  water  at  sunrise.  Unless  they  can  be  so  taken 
they  must  be  shot,  if  at  all,  by  having  the  gun  already  aimed  at  the 
probable  spot  where  the  loon  will  rise,  and  firing  at  the  very  in- 
stant the  water  breaks,  even  before  the  bird's  head  really  appears. 

Tke  following  is  an  account  of  the  loon  by  one  of  the  best  observ-r 
ers  of  birds  in  America: 


SCENES    ON    THE   KOUTE   TO    ASHLAND. 


SHOOTING  LARGE  GAME.  63 

"  One  of  the  strong  and  original  strokes  of  nature  was  when  she 
made  the  loon.  It  is  always  refreshing  to  contemplate  a  creature 
so  positive  and  characteristic.  He  is  the  great  diver  and  flier  un- 
der water.  The  loon  is  the  genus  loci  of  the  wild  northern  lakes,  as 
solitary  as  they  are  Some  birds  represent  the  majesty  of  nature, 
like  the  eagle,  others  its  ferocity,  like  the  hawk;  others  its  cun- 
ning, like  the  crow .  others  its  sweetness  and  melody,  like  the  song 
birds.  The  loon  represents  its  wildness  and  solitariness.'' 

Deer  Hunting. 

The  best  method  for  hunting  Deer  is  by  the  "  Still  Hunt."  This 
is  done  by  finding  fresh  tracks,  and  then  with  care  and  quiet- 
ness following  the  trail  till  the  deer  is  found.  If  care  is  exer- 
cised in  approaching,  a  good  shot  can  generally  be  obtained.  The 
following  directions  are  given  by  a  practical  hunter: 

"  For  •  Still  Hunting,  the  hunter  should  provide  himself  with 
a  good  rifle  and  a  pair  of  deer  skin  moccasins.  When  finding  the 
trail  he  should  walk  carefully  and  keep  a  good  lookout  ahead  as 
deer  are  always  watching  back  on  their  trail.  When  routed,  they 
almost  always  stop  on  hills.  In  order  to  get  within  gun  shot,  it  is 
necessary  to  circle  round  and  come  up  in  front  or  at  the  side — al- 
ways circling  to  the  leeward  side,  as  their  sense  of  smell  is  very 
acute.  The  deer,  when  the  early  snow  comes,  usually  get  up  and 
ieed  till  about  iO  o  clock,  A.  M.,  when  they  lie  down  till  about  3 
o'clock,  p.  M.,  then  they  start  on  a  rambling  excursion  till  near  the 
next  morning.  In  these  excursions  they  almost  always  return  to 
the  place  from  whence  they  started,  or  near  to  it." 

In  Still  Hunting,  when  the  buck,  doe,  and  fawns  are  found 
together,  shoot  the  doe  first,  the  buck  will  not  leave  till  you  get 
another  shot, 

A  fact  not  generally  known  is  that  between  the  hoof  of  a  deer 
there  is  a  sack  with  its  mouth  inclining  upwards,  and  within  this 
sack  is  a  musky  secretion  which  escapes  during  violent  exercise, 
leaving  a  scent  upon  the  ground  as  the  deer  passes.  In  some,  especi- 
ally old  bucks,  the  musk  is  so  abundant  that  the  hunter  has  no 
trouble  in  following  a  trail  by  the  scent. 

HUNTING  BY  TORCH-LIGHT  has  become  one  of  the  favorite 
modes  of  killing  deer,  and  is  said  to  be  extremely  fascinating.  A 


64  SHOOTING  LARGE  GAME. 

party  of  two  or  three  take  a  boat  on  a  dark  night  and  proceed  to 
paddle  cautiously  around  the  lake  within  a  rod  or  two  of  the 
shores.  The  huntsman  who  occupies  the  forward  seats  wears  a 
curious-looking  head-dress  upon  which  is  fastened  a  dark  lantern. 
As  the  boat  noiselessly  proceeds,  the  occupants  remaining  like  grim 
statues,  the  light  from  the  lantern  throws  a  sudden  gleam  upon  the 
edge  of  the  forest  jungle.  Deer  take  advantage  of  the  darkness 
to  seek  the  water,  and,  as  the  boat  comes  upon  them  unawares, 
the  light  suddenly  shines  in  their  faces,  which  they  curiously  watch 
and  wonder  at,  not  being  able  to  see  the  boat  and  the  enemy.  By 
this  means  the  hunters  are  enabled  to  get  a  good  view  of  the  deer, 
and  when  one  is  seen  in  this  manner  he  generally  falls  before  the 
unerring  aim  of  the  shot-gun,  which  is  the  favorite  weapon  for 
this  peculiar  sport. 

Another  favorite  mode,  as  practiced  by  city  hunters  under  the 
tutorship  of  the  old  hunters  and  guides,  is  to  shoot  from  stagings 
erected  in  trees  near  deer  salt-licks.  An  old  rotten  log  in  the  near 
vicinity  of  a  deer  trail  is  chosen  for  the  purpose,  and  kept  well 
salted,  and  a  sort  of  ladder  is  made  in  a  convenient  tree  and  at  a 
distance  of  between  thirty  and  forty  feet  a  narrow  seat  is  con- 
structed. About  sundown  the  hunter  takes  his  position  in  the  tree 
and  silently  awaits  the  approach  of  the  deer,  on  their  way  to  the 
lake.  They  always  stop  to  lick  the  salt  from  the  log,  when  the 
hunter,  who  patiently  waits  through  the  long  hours  of  the  night,  is 
rewarded  with  a  shot,  and  if  he  be  at  all  proficient  he  is  almost  sure 
of  one  or  more  deer. 

Stagings  are  also  erected  in  trees  close  to  narrow  channels  joining 
two  lakes,  through  which  the  deer  must  pass  on  their  night  rounds. 
When  two  or  more  parties  join  for  a  hunt  of  this  character,  both  of 
the  stagings  indicated  are  manned,  and  if  the  night  be  not  too  light 
and  the  hunters  remain  still  as  death,  plenty  of  game  is  sure  to  be 
encountered. 

Large  Game. 

GUNNING  FOR  LARGE  GAME  is  a  sport  that  will  soon  only 
be  found  in  the  mountains  and  on  the  far-western  plains.  Formerly 
there  roamed  at  will  over  this  once  wild  region  vast  herds  of  buf- 
falo, elk,  antelope,  moose  and  cariboo.  There  still  may  be  found 


SHOOTING  LARGE  GAME.  65 

upon  the  shores  of  our  northern  lakes  by  the  practiced  hunter  a 
stray  specimen  of  the  elk,  cariboo,  or  perhaps  the  moose,  but  the 
common  deer  and  black  bear  are  now  about  the  only  large  game  to 
be  found  in  any  quantity. 

All  animals  should  be  approached  from  the  leeward  side,  that 
your  presence  may  not  be  scented.  If  mounted  upon  a  horse  lie 
down  close  upon  his  back,  a  practice  that  will  often  deceive  the 
game.  A  horse  alone  does  not  disturb  a  fellow  animal.  Always 
shoot  for  the  heart.  The  ball  should  be  aimed  just  back  of  the  fore 
leg,  a  fe-vc  inches  above  the  brisket. 

An  Old-Time  Badger  Hunt. 

A  favorite  mode  of  taking  the  badger  is  by  the  use  of 
hounds.  A  moonlight  night  —  such  as  the  negroes  of  Virginia 
and  Alabama  delight  in  for  a  'possum  or  'coon  hunt— is  selected  for 
the  purpose,  and  about  11  o'clock  all  the  badger- earths  within  a 
radius  of  a  dozen  miles  are  stopped,  and  the  master  sallies  forth  with 
his  eager  and  expectant  dogs. 

Upon  arriving  at  the  first  earth  the  dogs  are  laid  on,  and,  al- 
though hours  may  have  elapsed  since  "the  varmint"  set  forth  upon 
his  nightly  prowl,  the  scent  remains  so  strong  that  the  hounds  have 
rarely  any  difficulty  in  picking  it  up  and  answering  to  it.  Presently 
a  crash  of  music  rings  through  the  dark  woods,  tipped  upon  their 
edges  with  clashes  of  silver  falling  from  tke  moonbeams,  and  the 
meditative  badger,  engaged,  perhaps,  two  or  three  miles  away  in 
digging  out  a  rabbit's  nest  or  climbing  a  tree  in  pursuit  of  honey, 
pricks  up  his  listening  ears  and  recognizes  the  sounds  proclaiming 
that  his  enemies  are  abroad.  With  a  shambling  run  he  makes  off 
without  more  ado  toward  the  nearest  earth,  and  finds,  to  his  con- 
sternation, that  it  is  barred  against  his  entrance.  A  few  sharp 
scratches  with  his  powerful  claws  convince  him  that  the  earth  is  too 
securely  stopped  for  him  to  be  able  to  force  his  way  into  it  within 
the  time  at  his  disposal,  and  again  he  darts  off  into  the  forest  with 
his  senses  preternaturally  quickened  by  the  rapidly  approaching 
notes  of  his  pursuers.  Another  earth  is  tried  in  vain,  and  the  hotly- 
hunted  beast  now  takes  in  despair  to  the  wood.  His  stumpy  legs 
are  plied  with  a  will,  and,  like  the  wild  hog  of  Central  India,  he 
shuffles  along  at  a  speed  with  which  inexperienced  sportsmen  would 


66  SHOOTING  LARGE  GAME. 


little  credit  him.  The  scent  which  he  leaves  behind  him  is,  how- 
ever, breast  high,  and  before  many  minutes  the  foremost  dogs  over- 
take him.  Then  may  it  be  seen  with  what  undaunted  pluck  and 
tenacity  the  hunted  badger  fights  for  his  life.  He  is  seized  perhaps 
by  a  fox-hound  who  has  never  tackled  a  badger  before,  but  the  cast- 
iron  jaws  of  the  quarry  imprint  a  mark  which  sends  the  assailant 
hopping  away  on  three  legs,  and  making  the  night  vocal  with  his 
howls.  The  rough  terriers  close  in  their  turn  with  the  enemy,  and 
issue  shortly  from  the  fray  sorely  the  worse  for  the  encounter.  At 
length  a  couple  of  old  and  experienced  hounds  make  a  concerted 
attack,  and  the  hotly -beset  but  indomitable  animal  yields  up  the 
ghost,  without  a  single  cry  of  pain  or  a  symptom  of  cowardice, 
fighting  grimly  to  the  end. 

This  harmless  and  roughly-treated  animal  lives  by  day  at  the 
bottom  of  deep  burrows,  where  he  sleeps  away  his  time  upon  a  very 
comfortable  bed  of  hay  and  grass,  until  the  evening  approaches, 
when  he  arises  and  goes  forth  in  search  of  food.  He  supports  him- 
self chiefly  on  roots,  grass,  fruit,  and  slugs,  with  an  occasional 
young  rabbit  for  an  appetizing  morsel.  When  undisturbed  by  his 
mortal  enemy,  man,  he  is  one  of  the  merriest  of  animals,  seeing  that 
he  has  little  to  dread  from  any  fellow  quadruped  or  bird  of  prey. 
His  terrific  bite,  as  sharp  and  tenacious  as  a  steel-trap,  secures  him 
from  molestation,  and  when,  being  like  all  bears  fond  of  honey,  he 
plunders  a  wild  bees'  nest,  the  stings  of  its  enraged  occupants  pro- 
duce no  sort  of  effect  upon  his  shaggy  coat  and  thick  skin.  Perhaps 
the  badger  is  most  in  his  glory  at  the  mouth  of  his  hole,  or  under 
the  root  of  a  tree,  which  protects  his  flanks  and  body  up  to  the 
shoulders  from" attack;  for  then  woe  betides  the  unwary  dog  which 
attempts  to  draw  him  forcibly  from  his  lair.  His  under  teeth  are  so 
planted,  and  the  leverage  of  the  lower  jaw  is  so  powerful,  that, 
•when  the  mouth  closes,  nothing  short  of  a  stupendous  effort  011  the 
part  of  the  gripped  animal  can  unfix  the  grimly  vigorous  bite. 
Simultaneously  the  badger's  little  eyes  twinkle  with  apparent  glee, 
and  his  whole  body  writhes  as  it  "were  \vith  fun  at  the  sensation  that 
he  has  got  tight  hold  of  his  victim.  At  this  critical  moment  men 
who  are  aware  of  the  creature's  habits  often  step  in  to  redress  the 
balance  in  favor  of  their  dogs.  The  nose  is  the  badger's  vulnerable 
point,  and  a  smart  tap  upon  it  curls  him  up  at  once,  and  leaves  him 
at  the  mercy  of  his  quadrupedal  assailants. 


WINTER  MAIL  ROUTE. 


G7 


FOXES  are  seldom  hunted  in  our  northern  "Sporting  Resorts" 
with  hounds;  a  practice  most  fascinating.  Will  not  our  Southern 
and  Eastern  cousins  "sound  the  horn"  and  with  the  "music  of  the 
race"  awaken  "  the  slumbering  echoes"  and  charm  the  gods  of 
Nature  ? 


The  Winter  Mail  Route. 

LEAVING  THE   LA  POINTE  P.  O. ,  BOUND  FOR  BAYFIELD,  ON  THE 
OPPOSITE   SIDE  OF  THE  CHANNEL. 

The  above  was  engraved  from  a  photograph  and  is  true  to  life, 
just  such  a  scene  as  the  writer  has  often  witnessed.  These  dogs 
appear,  and  actually  are,  very  intelligent.  A  team  of  three 
will  haul  eight  hundred  to  a  thousand  pounds.  They  travel  where 
horses  can  not  go,  being  light  of  foot  a  slight  crust  on  the  snow 
holds  them  up.  They  are  largely  of  the  Newfoundland  breed,  but 
many  of  them  are  mixed,  dog  and  wolf.  Many  wonderful  stories 
are  told  of  these  almost  human  animals.  They  have  saved  many 
lives,  and  have  often  performed  feats  that  required  mental  calcula- 
tion and  judgment,  even  beyond  the  capacity  of  many  human 
brains. 


LEGENDS 

OF  THE 

Land  of  Lakes, 

—  BY  — 

GEO.  FRANCIS. 

PAKT  1.  —  Lake  Superior  and  Sur- 
roundings. 

PART  2.  —  Wisconsin,  Interior 
Lakes,  etc. 

For  Sale  by  all  Booksellers. 


THE 


\  Complete  Sportsman, 


BY 

GEO.  FRANCIS. 


A  200  Page  Book,  Finely 
Illustrated. 


Is  now  in  course  of  prepara- 
tion for  next  season. 


SCENE  ON  LAC  FLAMBEAU,   NEAR  WIS.  CENT,  R.  R. 


SPORTSMEN 
and   TOURISTS 

who  desire  special  or  pre- 
cise information  relating 
to  any  of  the  numerous 
Summer  Resorts  and 
Game  Haunts  of  the 
Northwest,  can  learn  all 
they  may  require  by  in- 
dulging in  an  "Annual 
Certificate  Card"  of  the 
"Land  Seekers'  Bureau  of 
Information." 

SEE  ADVERTISEMENT  ON  ANOTHER 
PAGE. 


TRAPPING. 


Within  the  borders  of  the  States  of  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and 
Michigan,  the  following  fur-bearing  animals  are  still  more  or  less 
plentiful:  Bear,  beaver,  badger,  wild-cat,  fisher,  fox,  lynx,  marten, 
mink,  otter,  raccoon,  skunk,  wolverine,  wolf  and  musk-rat.  The 
halcyon  days  of  the  trapper  are  gone;  game  is  not  what  it  once  was, 
but  what  there  is  pays  well.  Good  bear,  otter  and  fisher  skins 
bring  ten  to  fifteen  dollars  in  St.  Paul.  Marten  or  wolverine  is 
worth  three  to  five  dollars;  a  wolf  is  worth  from  two  to  four,  and  a 
red  fox  about  two.  A  silver-gray  fox,  when  of  the  best  quality,  is 
worth  fifty  dollars,  hard  cash.  Beaver  is  sold  by  the  pound,  and 
brings  for  prime  qualities  from  three  to  four  dollars. 

The  skins  of  animals  trapped  are  always  valued  higher  than 
those  shot,  as  shot  not  only  make  holes,  but  frequently  plow 
along  the  skin  making  furrows  as  well  as  shaving  off  the  fur.  To 
realize  the  utmost  for  skins  they  must  be  taken  care  of,  and  also 
cleaned  and  prepared  properly. 

STEEL  TRAPS  are  the  best  for  all  animals.  They  can  be  easily 
moved  from  place  to  place;  can  be  used  equally  well  on  land  or 
under  water,  and  they  do  not  injure  the  fur  in  the  least.  There  are 
a  great  variety  of  makes  and  sizes,  the  choice  of  which  must  depend 
upon  the  game  sought  for,  and  the  ideas  of  the  trapper.  The  musk- 
rat  trap  will  also  serve  for  the  capture  of  tho  mink,  marten  and  all 
other  small  fur-bearing  animals.  The  mink  trap  proper  is  one  size 
larger  than  for  the  musk-rat,  and  will  answer  for  the  fox  or  fisher. 
The  otter  trap  will  hold  any  medium  sized  animal  as  the  beaver, 
badger  or  wild-cat.  The  beaver  trap  proper  will  also  do  for  the 
wolf  or  lynx.  For  the  bear  or  panther  the  largest  size  trap  must  be 
used. 

THE  DEAD  FALL  constructed  by  the  trapper  himself  often  does 
most  effective  work  in  taking  various  animals.  It  consists  of 


70  TRAPPING. 


two  large  poles  or  logs  placed  over  each  other  and  kept  in 
place  by  four  stakes,  two  on  each  side.  The  top  pole  is  raised 
at  one  end  sufficiently  high  to  admit  the  entrance  of  the  animal, 
and  is  kept  in  that  position  by  the  contrivance  of  the  stick 
and  spindle,  or  "  figure  four."  A  tight  pen  is  made  with  sticks, 
brush,  etc.,  on  one  side  of  the  trap,  at  right  angles  to  it,  and  the 
spindle  projects  obliquely  into  this  pen  so  that  the  bait  attached 
to  it  is  about  eight  inches  beyond  the  side  of  the  poles.  The  ani- 
mal, to  reach  this  bait,  has  to  place  his  body  between  the  poles  and 
at  right  angles  to  them,  and  on  pulling,  the  spindle  springs  the 
"  figure  four"  and  the  animal  is  crushed. 

This  contrivance  forms  the  basis  of  a  large  variety  of  traps.  It  is 
made  of  three  sticks — an  upright,  a  diagonal  piece,  and  the  trigger 
or  horizontal  piece.  The  upright  piece  should  be  made  about  eight 
inches  long,  the  top  end  being  cut  to  a  thick  edge — not  pointed.  The 
horizontal  piece  or  trigger,  about  fourteen  inches  long  and  square- 
has  a  notch  on  one  side  about  seven  inches  from  one  end,  On  the 
upper  face  of  the  trigger  near  the  blunt  end,  and  about  six  and  a 
half  inches  from  the  side  notch,  is  another  notch. 

The  diagonal  piece  has  both  ends  bevelled  or  brought  to  a  wide 
edge,  and  a  notch  cut  near  one  end.  In  setting  up  the  figure,  hold 
the  perpendicular  up,  fit  the  trigger  to  its  side,  adjust  the  notch 
in  the  diagonal  to  the  perpendicular,  and  then  insert  the  other 
end  of  the  diagonal  in  the  notch  near  the  end  of  the  trigger.  Now 
let  the  lid  of  the  trap  or  the  fall,  rest  on  the  end  of  the  diagonal, 
right  over  the  trap.  This  makes  the  figure  four  stand  firmly,  yet 
ready  to  fall  at  the  least  pressure  on  the  trigger,  to  which  the  bait  is 
fastened.  The  trigger  should  extend  about  three  inches  from  the 
perpendicular. 

Setting   Traps. 

In  trapping  there  are  three  points  to  be  constantly  borne  in  mind, 
viz:  To  set  your  trap  so  that  the  animal  will  go  to  it  —  that  it  will 
secure  it  when  it  comes — and  that  your  captive  shall  not  release 
itself.  In  using  the  home-made  traps,  the  precautions  will  suggest 
themselves;  steel  traps  must  always  be  disguised  with  some  prepar- 
ation rubbed  over  them.  The  trap  should  be  well  smoked  with 
hemlock,  cedar,  or  juniper  boughs,  or  immersed  in  fresh  hog's  or 
chicken's  blood.  Melted  fat,  or  bees  wax  will  also  answer  the  same 


TRAPPING.  71 


purpose.  In  setting  traps  for  rabbits,  grease  of  any  kind  must  be 
avoided.  Too  much  preparation  must  not  be  made  around  your 
traps  —  things  must  be  left  as  natural  as  possible.  Animals  are 
usually  very  shy  and  are  easily  frightened  off.  In  the  case  of  foxes, 
raccoons,  etc. ,  it  is  better  to  induce  them  to  come  for  a  few  nights  be- 
fore setting  the  trap.  Scatter  around  bones,  pieces  of  meat,  bread, 
corn,  etc.,  it  will  teach  them  to  be  bold,  and  success  will  be  mori 
certain. 

In  trapping  animals  whose  skins  are  valuable,  precautions  have- 
to  be  taken  to  prevent  them  injuring  their  fur,  or  being  devoured  by 
other  animals. 

A  contrivance  called  a  Spring  Pole  is  used  for  this  purpose,  and 
is  made  as  follows:  Cut  a  pole  of  the  required  size,  drive  it  firmly 
into  the  ground,  bend  it  down  from  the  top,  and  fasten  the  trap  to 
it;  fasten  the  bent  pole  by  a  notch  or  hook  on  a  small  tree  or  a  stick 
driven  into  the  ground.  If  a  small  tree  stands  near,  you  can  trim 
and  use  it  as  it  stands.  When  the  animal  is  caught,  his  struggles 
will  unhook  the  pole,  which  flies  back  and  lifts  him  up  into  the  air, 
thus  securing  him  from  self-violence  and  from  prowlers. 

Animals  that  live  in  the  water  require  a  different  contrivance. 
Cut  a  pole  ten  or  twelve  feet  long,  leaving  enough  of  the  branches 
on  the  end  to  prevent  the  ring  of  the  chain  slipping  off.  Place 
the  pole  near  your  trap,  in  an  inclined  position,  with  its  small 
end  reaching  into  the  deepest  part  of  the  stream,  and  its  large  end 
made  fast  in  the  bank  by  a  hook  driven  into  the  ground.  Slip  the 
chain  ring  on  the  pole,  and  be  sure  that  it  is  free  to  traverse  the 
whole  length.  When  the  animal  is  caught,  it  plunges  desperately 
into  the  region  towards  which  the  pole  leads.  The  ring  slides  down 
to  the  end  of  the  pole  at  the  bottom  of  the  stream,  and  with  a  short 
chain  prevents  the  animal  from  coming  to  the  surface  or  returning 
to  the  shore. 

Proper  Season  for  Trapping. 

Newhouse,  who  is  authority  on  these  matters,  makes  the  follow- 
ing remarks: 

''All  furs  are  best  in  winter;  but  trapping  may  be  carried  on 
to  advantage  for  at  least  six  months  in  the  year,  i.e.,  anytime 
between  the  first  of  October  and  the  middle  of  April.  There  is 
a  period  in  the  warm  season,  say  from  the  first  of  May  to  tho 


TRAPPING. 


middle  of  September,  when  trapping  is  out  of  the  question,  as  furs 
are  worthless.  The  most  trapping  is  done  late  in  the  fall  and  early 
in  the  spring.  The  reason  why  furs  become  worthless  in  summer 
is,  that  all  fur-bearing  animals  shed  their  coats,  or  at  least  lose  the 
finest  and  thickest  part  of  their  fur  as  warm  weather  approaches, 
and  have  a  new  growth  of  it  in  the  fall  to  protect  them  in  winter. 
This  whole  process  is  indicated  in  the  case  of  the  musk-rat,  and 
some  other  animals,  by  the  color  of  the  inside  part  of  the  skin. 
As  summer  approaches,  it  becomes  brown  and  dark.  That  is  a  sign 
that  the  best  fur  is  gone.  Afterward  it  grows  light-colored,  and  in 
winter  when  the  fur  is  in  the  best  condition,  it  is  altogether  white. 
When  the  pelt  is  white,  it  is  called  prime  by  fur-dealers.  The 
fur  is  then  glossy,  thick,  and  of  the  richest  color,  and  the  tails  of 
such  animals  as  the  mink,  marten  and  fisher,  are  full  and  Ii3avy. 
Beavers  and  musk-rats  are  not  thoroughly  prime  till  about  the 
middle  of  winter.  Other  animals  are  prime  about  the  first  of  No- 
vember. There  is  probably  some  variation  with  the  latitude,  of  the 
exact  period  at  which  furs  become  prime,  the  more  northern  being 
a  little  in  advance.  Trappers  are  liable  to  begin  trapping  too  early 
in  the  season,  consequently  much  poor  fur  is  caught,  which  must 
be  sold  at  low  prices,  and  is  unprofitable  to  the  trapper,  the  fur- 
buyer,  and  the  manufacturer." 

Directions  for  Trapping  and  Snaring. 

THE  FOX. — There  are  several  methods  of  catching  this  cau- 
tious animal.  The  trap  should  be  concealed  in  a  bed  of  sawdust, 
leaves  or  chaff,  taking  care  that  it  is  well  smeared  with  blood  or 
bees-wax.  Fasten  the  trap  to  a  clog  so  that  the  fox  when  caught 
can  move  about.  To  make  the  allurement  doubly  sure,  obtain  from 
the  female  of  the  dog,  fox  or  wolf,  the  matrix,  in  the  season  of 
coition,  and  preserve  it  in  alcohol,  tightly  corked.  Leave  a  small 
portion  of  it  on  something  near  the  trap;  also  put  some  on  your 
boots  when  visiting  your  traps.  Make  a  trail  in  different  directions 
encircling  the  trap.  A  piece  of  raw  flesh  may  also  be  dragged  about. 
Be  sure  and  leave  everything  around  the  trap  and  vicinity  as  natural 
as  possible.  Another  good  plan  is  to  get  some  earth  from  a  kennel 
where  a  tame  fox  is  kept,  and  set  the  trap  in  it. 


SCENES    AT    BAYFIELD,    17    MILES    FROM     ASHLAND. 


TRAPPING.  73 


THE  MINK.— These  can  bo  taken  either  on  land  or  water;  the 
land  being  generally  preferred  by  trappers.  The  trap  is  set  near  the 
bank  of  a  streanio  If  one  of  their  holes  cannot  be  found,  make 
one.  Three  sidc3  of  the  cavity  should  be  barricaded  with  stone> 
bark  or  wood,  and  the  trap  sat  in  the  entrance.  For  bait,  use  a 
fish,  bird  or  murh-rat,  cut  in  :mall  pieces  and  placed  in  the  hole 
beyond  the  trap  so  thai  the  mink  will  be  obliged  to  step  over  the 
trap  to  get  it.  Cover  the  trap  with  leaves,  grass  or  feathers.  In 
the  coldest  weather,  smoke  the  bait  to  ^ivo  it  a  stronger  scent 
The  (best  scent  for  attracting  miak  is  made  as  follows  Get  some 
eels,  trout  or  minnows,  and  cut  up  into  small  pieces,  put  them 
into  a  loosely  corked  bottle  and  hrng  it  in  the  sun  for  two  or 
three  weeks,  an  oil  will  then  be  formed  on  the  top  whicli  emits 
a  very  strong  odor0  Sprinkle  a  few  drops  of  this  oil  on  the 
bait  and  around  the  trap*  It  wfl  be  sure  to  draw  mink  from  some 
distance.  The  chain  of  the  tiT,p>  should  be  fastened  to  a  spring  pc  le 
to  lift  the  animal  out  of  the  reach  of  depredators,  or  if  ohe  trap  is 
set  near  water  it  should  be  attached  to  the  sliding  pv  ^e,  so  as  to 
drown  the  animal  at  once. 

THE  MUSK-RAT. — First  find  a  partially  submerged  log  with 
some  recent  droppings  of  the  musk-rat  on  it,  cut  i  notch  for  the  trap 
an  inch  or  two  under  the  water;  t1-  -i  fasten  the  trap  to  a  spring  pole, 
for,  if  on  the  land,  among  weeds  and  bushes,  he  will  not  un frequently 
twist  off  his  leg  and  escape.  The  traps  are  also  placed  in  the  runs, 
on  bogs  and  old  musk-rat  houses,  and  wherever  there  are  recent 
indications  that  the  musk-rats  come  to  feed.  Where  the  game  is 
scarce,  the  traps  are  sometimes  baited,  but  otherwise  this  is  not 
necessary.  Carrots,  parsnips,  api'.Vs  or  potatoes,  can  be  used  for 
bait.  A  stick  is  stuck  in  the  ground,  slanting  in  wh  a  manner  that 
the  end  shall  be  0  or  8  inches  above  the  treddle  of  the  trap.  The 
bait  is  stuck  on  the  end  of  the  stick,  and  in  this  way?  if  there  are 
any  rats  in  the  vicinity,  you  are  pretty  sure  to  catch  them.  Some- 
times the  traps  are  covered  with  an  inch  or  two  of  weeds;  and 
some  trappers  put  a  drcp  or  two  of  the  oil,  found  in  the  glands  of 
the  musk-rat,  on  or  near  ihe  traps.  Equal,  if  not  better  than  a  steel 
trap,  is  an  old  barrel,  sunk  to  the  level  of  the  ground,  near  the 
bank  of  a  ditch,  where  there  are  evidences  of  the  presence  of  the 
animals.  Half  illl  it  with  water,  and  put  in  a  couple  of  shingles,  or 
light  strips  of  board,  to  float  on  the  surface.  Place  sweet  apples  or 


74  TRAPPING. 


carrots  cut  in  small  bits  in  the  runs  of  the  musk-rats,  to  toll  them  to 
the  barrel.  Then  with  bait  upon  the  floats,  inside,  the  rats  will 
jump  in  after  the  food,  and  will  not  be  able  to  get  out.  Where 
they  are  plenty,  several  musk-rats  may  be  taken  in  a  night  by  this 
simple  trap,  it  costs  nothing  but  labor,  can  be  visited  at  your  con- 
venience, and  there  is  plenty  of  room  in  it  for  a  dozen  or  more  at  once. 

The  musk-rat  is  a  very  dainty  eater,  and  one  of  the  swell  mem- 
bers of  the  animal  kingdom.  He  not  only  washes  himself  before 
and  after  he  eats,  but  he  washes  all  his  food  and  observes  the  rule  of 
cleanliness  with  unvarying  regularity.  Personally  he  is  a  short- 
legged  little  animal,  from  twelve  to  fifteen  inches  long,  with  a  tail 
two-thirds  the  length  of  his  body.  He  sports  six  rows  of  side- 
whiskers,  and  wears  a  scared,  surprised  sort  of  an  expression  on 
his  rather  homely  face  that  makes  him  look  as  if  at  some  time  he 
had  been  guilty  of  some  great  crime.  His  dress  is  useful  as  well  as 
ornamental.  It  is  of  hair,  very  soft  and  warm,  dark  brown  on  top, 
and  rather  lighter  below.  He  is  a  good  feeder,  and  his  bill  of  fare 
embraces  roots,  grasses,  vegetables,  fruits  and  mussels.  He  can 
shuck  a  mussel  as  easily  as  a  champion  shucker  can  handle  an 
oyster.  Sometimes  he  eats  fish,  but  this  is  rare.  He  is  mainly  a 
vegetarian. 

The  uses  of  the  musk-rat  are  twofold,  its  hide,  and  for  food. 
Formerly,  when  musk-rat  fur  was  fashionable,  the  hides  easiJy 
brought  25  or  30  cents,  but  nowadays  10  or  15  cents  is  all  they  are 
worth.  As  food  the  excellence  of  the  meat  depends  altogether  on 
the  skinning  and  cooking.  If  the  musk-bag  is  cut  and  the  scent 
is  imparted  to  the  meat,  it  becomes  worthless.  An  Indian 
•woman  who  is  somewhat  noted  for  her  success  in  making  musk-rat 
palatable,  tells  how  she  treats  the  animal.  She  said  she  skinned  it 
and  washed  it  carefully  in  fresh  water;  soaked  it  for  several 
hours  in  salt  water,  and  then,  if  the  weather  was  cold  enough^  hung 
it  in  the  air  so  that  it  would  freeze.  The  longer  it  is  allowed  to 
freeze  the  better  it  gets.  The  cold  tabes  away  the  wild  taste.  After 
this  she  either  stews  it,  or,  if  she  wants  it  fried,  parboils  it  and 
fries  it  afterward.  When  served  hot  after  the  foregoing  treatment  it 
it  is  a  dish  not  to  be  despised.  The  meat  resembles  the  guinea  hen, . 
and  tastes  something  like  that  of  the  squirrel.  The  way  the  Indians 
used  to  treat  this  animal  was  either  to  toast  it  on  coals  or  boil  it 
with  corn.  It  is  to  this  day  a  great  favorite  with  them  and  is  rated 
second  only  to  beaver's  tail. 


TRAPPING.  75 


SQUIRRELS.—  In  trapping  squirrels,  set  a  steel  trap  on  the  up- 
per rail  of  a  fence  near  where  they  frequent;  set  a  pole  with  an  ear 
of  corn,  or  some  other  squirrel  food  fastened  to  the  end  of  it,  up 
against  the  side  of  the  fence,  leaning  in  such  a  position  as  to 
spring  the  bait  over  the  trap  at  a  hight  of  six  or  nine  inches;  when 
the  squirrel  reaches  to  get  the  bait  he  will  get  into  the  trap. 

SKUNKS. — Take  an  old  barrel  and  place  it  on  its  side  on  a  tri- 
angular stick  of  wood  about  7  inches  high,  fastening  the  bait  on 
the  bottom  of  the  barrel.  When  the  skunk  goes  for  this  bait  as 
soon  as  he  passes  the  centre,  the  barrel  turns  upright  with  the  skunk 
in  it.  Then  to  secure  the  skunk  take  it  by  the  tail  and — well, 
we  would  advise  you  not  to.  Care  must  be  taken  not  to  place 
the  barrel  too  high,  as  it  might  fall  over.  The  more  skunks  you 
catch  in  the  same  barrel,  the  better  the  trap. 

Skunks  may  also  be  caught  with  the  steel  trap  and  spring  pole. 
Set  the  trap  near  their  hole  or  path.  Strew  pieces  of  meat  or  dead 
mice  before  and  near  the  trap.  The  offensive  discharge  can  be  pre- 
vented by  a  blow  over  the  back. 

THE  OTTER. — This  animal  is  a  great  enemy  to  fish,  and  the 
trapper  is  usually  not  slow  in  taking  advantage  of  the  fact.  First 
proceed  along  the  stream;  look  for  the  deepest  holes,  where  the  fish 
are  sure  to  fly  when  pursued.  Look  about  carefully  and  you  will 
see  the  tracks  where  the  otter  comes  out  of  the  water,  up  the  bank; 
and  often  you  will  find  a  small  tuft  of  grass  greener  than  the  rest; 
open  this  and  you  will  find  the  dung  of  the  otter,  full  of  scales  and 
bones  of  fish.  Having  found  out  a  favorite  landing-place  of  the 
otter,  make  a  run,  slanting  from  the  water  up  the  bank,  with  a 
trapping-paddle;  dig  out  a  place  exactly  the  form  of  the  trap;  set 
the  trap  slanting,  so  that  the  otter  will  not  tread  on  the  spring  ; 
cover  it  over  with  fine  mould— dry  leaves,  or  rotten  wood,  level 
with  the  ground.  When  done,  go  back  as  far  as  you  can,  and  with 
your  hand  throw  water  on  the  place  where  the  trap  is  set  and  all 
around,  to  take  away  the  scent  of  your  hand  and  the  fresh  mould. 

Fasten  the  trap  as  follows:  Cut  a  small  tree  the  size  of  the  chain 
ring,  and  set  it  upright  near  enough  to  the  path  to  help  the  animal 
into  the  trap,  supporting  it  in  that  position  and  securing  the  trap 
and  game  by  withing  or  tying  the  top  to  another  tree.  The  ring 
should  be  slipped  on  the  butt  and  fastened  by  a  wedge.  Before 
leaving,  perfume  the  trap  with  a  few  drops  of  the  fish  oil  as  men- 
tioned under  the  head  of  Mink.  The  musk  of  the  otter  is  also  very 


76  TRAPPING. 


good.  This  is  an  oil  taken  from  two  small  glands  called  oil  stones 
situated  next  the  skin  on  the  belly  of  both  sexes.  The  otter's  sense 
of  smell  is  very  acute,  hence  great  care  must  be  taken  to  remove 
any  trace  of  the  trapper.  While  the  trap  is  unsprung,  keep  as  far 
as  possible  from  it. 

The  otter  resembles  the  weasel  in  form  and  motion,  but  is  very 
different  in  many  other  respects.  The  otter,  unlike  the  weasel,  lives 
almost  exclusively  in  the  water  and  never  allows  its  curiosity  to 
overcome  its  discretion.  A  full  grown  otter  is  from  three  and  one- 
half  to  five  feet  in  length  from  the  end  of  its  nose  to  the  tip  of  its 
tail,  and  weighs  from  twelve  to  thirty  pounds,  is  of  a  dark  brown 
color  about  the  head  and  shoulders,  and  nearly  black  further  back, 
with  occasionally  an  individual  that  is  jet  black  all  over;  but  a  per- 
fectly black  otter  is  very  rare.  The  fur  is  short,  thick  and  very 
fine,  and  will  wear  longer  than  any  other  fur.  An  otter  can  not  run 
very  rapidly  (it  never  walks);  it  jumps  like  a  weasel,  except  that  in 
traveling  on  the  snow,  where  it  is  level  or  a  trifle  descending,  it 
drops  its  fore  feet  back  by  its  side,  and  slides  along  on  its  breast, 
propelling  itself  by  its  hind  feet;  and  I  have  seen  where  it  has  slid 
ten  rods  at  a  time  without  moving  its  feet  at  all,  and  the  track  looks 
as  if  you  had  drawn  along  a  six  inch  log.  They  sometimes  travel 
long  distances  overland,  but  this  is  not  common;  their  home  is  in 
the  water.  They  live  exclusively  on  fish;  which  they  can  catch 
with  perfect  ease,  by  outswimming  them.  If  an  otter  takes  after  a 
fish  there  is  no  escape  unless  it  can  get  into  so  small  a  place  that 
the  otter  cannot  follow.  It  can  outswim  even  a  trout.  It  does  not 
use  its  fore  feet  in  swimming,  but  drops  them  back  the  same  as  it 
does  when  sliding  on  the  snow,  and  propels  itself  with  its  hind  feet, 
which  are  webbed.  It  is  a  very  strong,  sharp  bitten  animal  and  will 
whip  two  ordinary  dogs.  It  is  a  very  hardy,  long-lived  animal, 
often  attaining  the  age  of  20  years.  It  breeds  once  a  year,  dropping 
its  young,  three  or  four,  about  the  first  of  May,  and  generally  se- 
lects some  small  stream  that  is  very  secluded  and  well  stocked  with 
trout.  Of  all  wild  animals,  the  otter  is  the  wildest.  It  is  very  hard  to 
trap,  not  only  on  account  of  its  natural  shyness,  but  also  from  a 
penchant  that  it  has  for  catching  its  own  food,  and  consequently 
can  not  be  baited.  The  otter  is  sometimes  domesticated  by  the 
trapper,  and  taught  to  catch  fish  for  his  master.  In  India  and  in 
China  it  has  long  been  customary  to  so  train  the  otter. 

THE  FISHER.—  These  are  caught  with  the  same  methods  used 


TRAPPING.  77 


in  taking  the  mink.  The  trap  should  always  be  fastened  to  the 
spring  pole.  Unless  the  animal  is  lifted  from  the  ground,  he  is 
nearly  sure  to  gnaw  off  his  leg  or  the  pole.  An  old  hunter  gives 
the  following  instructions:  "For  capturing  the  fisher,  we  always 
draw  a  trail  composed  of  oil  of  anise,  assafoetida,  and  the  musk 
of  the  musk-rat,  mixed  with  fish  oil,  and  placed  in  a  deer-skin 
bag,  about  the  sizo  of  a  mitten,  pierced  full  of  holes  with  a  small 
awl.  If  drawn  along  the  line  of  traps,  the  scent  is  sure  to  attract 
the  fisher's  ctfee&tion,  and  when  an  animal  once  finds  it,  he  will  fol- 
low the  tail  till  he  comes  to  the  trap.  Mink  are  sometimes 
caught  along  trails  of  this  kind,  and  it  is  a  good  plan  to  set  a  trap 
for  wolves  on  the  liiies  as  they  are  likely  to  be  attracted  and  to 
follow  it.  In  setting  the  trap,  we  either  place  it  in  a  hollow  log, 
or  build  a  strong  house  and  place  the  trap  at  the  entrance.  In  the 
latter  case  the  bait  should  be  placed  about  two  feet  back  from  the 
door.  The  trap  should  be  covered  with  finely  powdered  rotten 
wood.  A  spring  pole  should  be  used,  as  all  animals  of  the  canine 
family  will  follow  the  trail  and  rob  the  traps.  Deer  meat,  musk-rat 
meat,  or  fish,  make  good  bait  for  the  fisher,  marten,  mink  or  wolf. 

THE  BEAVER. — These  animals  are  now  becoming  very  scarce. 
The  clearing  up  and  cultivation  of  the  soil  has  driven  nearly  all 
of  them  from  the  country  When  a  beaver  pond  has  been  found, 
the  principal  object  is  to  take  each  beaver  in  it  alone  and  drown  it 
as  soon  as  possible.  If  the  remaining  beavers  get  a  knowledge  of 
the  capture  of  one  of  their  family,  they  will  all  remove  away.  The 
trap  should  be  set  near  the  shore,  about  three  inches  under  wa- 
ter. Carefully  hide  it  by  a  covering  of  some  soft  substance  that 
will  not  interfere  with  its  springing.  Use  for  bait  a  small  portion 
of  beaver  castor,  a  milky  secretion  found  in  glands  near  the  test- 
icles of  the  male  beaver,  leave  it  on  the  bank  near  the  trap  and 
carefully  remove  all  trace  of  foot-prints  by  drenching  the  tracks 
with  water. 

BABBITS.— The  steel  trap  is  simply  buried  in  the  run,  and 
leaves,  grass,  or  earth  strewed  over  its  surface  so  as  not  to  give  an 
appearance  of  an  unusual  character.  Bait  with  a  piece  of  apple. 
Precaution  should,  however,  be  taken  to  tie  the  trap  to  a  bough  or 
peg  in  the  ground,  by  a  piece  of  strong  string,  otherwise  the  rab- 
bit will  carry  away  the  trap.  Wire  snares  are  also  very  effective 
traps.  They  are  made  of  fine  copper  wire,  and  being  inexpen- 
sive, a  number  of  them  may  be  set  where  rabbits  abound.  The 


78  TRAPPING. 


wires  are  made  to  form  a  running  loop,  just  such  as  we  form  with 
string;  only  the  wires  are  so  arranged  that  they  all  unite  to  form 
the  one  loop.  No  ingenious  person  could  fail  to  form  the  loop, 
after  a  few  minutes'  handling  of  the  wire.  It  is  so  simple  that 
it  will  suggest  itself.  The  loop  thus  made,  is  set  across  a  run,  so 
that  the  top  of  the  loop  stands  say  about  six  inches  from  the 
ground;  and  in  order  to  keep  it  in  its  proper  position,  a  peg  of 
wood  is  driven  in  the  ground  a  little  way  from  the  run,  and  in 
the  top  of  the  peg  there  is  a  slit  which  serves  to  catch  the  ends 
of  the  wires  and  holds  them  in  position.  The  wires  must  be  tied 
firmly  at  the  end  to  a  string,  which  may  lie  on  the  ground;  the 
end  of  the  string  should  then  be  tied  to  a  bough  sufficiently  high  from 
the  ground  to  yield  a  little  when  it  is  pulled.  This  yielding  of  the 
bough  prevents  the  rabbit  from  snapping  the  string,  which  it  would 
otherwise  do  in  its  endeavors  to  escape. 

There  is  an  ingenious  mode  of  taking  rabbits  by  single  wires  and 
what  is  called  a  springle,  the  same  in  principle  as  the  spring  pole. 
A  strong  and  springy  stick  is  stuck  deep  into  the  ground  in  an  up- 
right direction;  its  smaller  end  is  then  bent  over,  and  also  buried 
sufficiently  in  the  ground  to  keep  it  down.  To  this  end  a  wire  is 
tied  by  a  short  string,  and  when  the  rabbit  is  caught,  his  first  jump 
pulls  the  end  of  the  springle  out  of  the  soil,  and  it  then  lifts  the 
rabbit  completely  from  the  ground,  thereby  depriving  him  of  all 
power  of  escape. 


THE  ART  OF  CURING  SKINS. 


The  market  value  of  skins  is  greatly  affected  by  the  care  used  in 
skinning  and  curing.  We  take  the  following  from  Newhouse's  Trap- 
per's Guide,  an  authority  on  such  matters. 

1.  Be  careful  to  visit  your  traps  often  enough,  so  that  the  skins 
will  not  have  time  to  get  tainted. 

2.  As  soon  as  possible  after  an  animal  is  dead  and  dry,  attend  to 
the  skinning  and  curing. 

3.  Scrape  off  all  superfluous  flesh  and  fat,  and  be  careful  not  to 
go  so  deep  as  to  cut  the  fiber  of  the  skin. 

4.  Never  dry  a  skin  by  the  fire  or  in  the  sun,  but  in  a  cool, 
shady  place,  sheltered  from  the  rain.     If  you  use  a  barn  door  for  a 
stretcher  (as  boys  sometimes  do),  nail  the  skin  on  the  inside  of  the 
door. 

5.  Never  use  "preparations"  of  any  kind  in  curing  skins,  nor 
even  wash  them  in  water,  but  simply  stretch  and  dry  them  as  they 
are  taken  from  the  animal.         • 

In  drying  skins  it  is  important  that  they  should  be  stretched  tight 
like  a  strained  drum-head.  This  can  be  done  after  a  fashion  by  sim- 
ply nailing  them  flat  on  a  wide  board.  But  this  method,  besides 
being  impracticable  in  the  woods  (where  most  skins  have  to  be 
cured)  is  objectionable,  because  it  exposes  only  one  side  of  the  pelt 
to  the  air.  The  stretchers  that  are  generally  used  by  trappers,  are 
of  three  kinds,  adapted  to  the  skins  of  different  classes  of  animals. 
They  are  the  board-stretcher,  the  bow-stretcher,  and  the  hoop- 
stretcher. 

THE  BOARD  STRETCHER.— This  contrivance  is  made  in  the 
following  manner:  Prepare  a  board  of  bass-wood  or  other  lignt 
material,  two  feet  three  inches  long,  three  inches  and  a  half  wide  at 
one  end,  and  two  inches  and  an  eighth  at  the  other,  and  three 
eighths  of  an  inch  thick.  Chamfer  it  from  the  centre  to  the  sides 
almost  to  an  edge.  Round  and  chamfer  the  small  end  about  an 


82  ART  OF  CURING  SKINS. 


inch  up  on  the  sides.  Split  this  board  through  the  centre  with  a 
knife  or  saw.  Finally,  prepare  a  wedge  of  the  same  length  and 
thickness,  one  inch  wide  at  the  large  end,  and  tapering  to  three 
eighths  of  an  inch  at  the  small  end,  to  be  driven  between  the  halves 
of  the  board.  This  is  a  stretcher  suitable  for  a  mink  or  a  marten, 
A  larger  size,  suitable  for  the  full  grown  otter  or  wolf,  should  be 
five  feet  and  a  half  long,  seven  inches  wide  at  the  large  end  when 
fully  spread  by  the  wedge,  and  six  inches  at  the  small  end.  An 
intermediate  size  is  required  for  the  fisher,  raccoon,  fox,  and  some 
other  animals,  the  proportions  of  which  can  be  easily  figured  out. 

These  stretchers  require  that  the  skin  of  the  animal  shall  not  be 
ripped  through  the  belly,  but  must  be  stripped  off  whole.  This  is 
done  in  the  following  manner:  Commence  with  the  knife  at  the 
hind  feet,  and  slit  down  to  the  vent.  Cut  around  the  vent,  and  strip 
the  skin  from  the  bone  of  the  tail  with  the  help  of  the  thumb  nail  or 
a  split  stick.  Make  no  other  slits  in  the  skin,  except  in  the  case  of 
the  otter,  whose  tail  requires  to  be  split,  spread,  and  tacked  on  to 
the  board.  Peel  the  skin  from  the  body  by  drawing  it  over  itself, 
leaving  the  fur  inward. 

In  this  condition  the  skin  should  be  drawn  on  to  the  split  board, 
(with  the  back  on  one  side  and  the  belly  on  the  other)  to  its  utmost 
length,  and  fastened  with  tacks  or  by  notches  cut  in  the  edge  of  the 
board,  and  then  the  wedge  should  be  driven  between  the  two  halves. 
Finally,  make  all  fast  by  a  tack  at  the  root  of  the  tail,  and  another 
on  the  opposite  side.  The  skin  is  then  stretched  to  its  utmost 
capacity,  as  a  boot-leg  is  stretched  by  the  shoemaker's  "tree"  and  it 
may  be  hung  away  in  the  proper  place,  by  a  hole  in  one  end  of  the 
stretcher,  and  left  to  dry. 

A  modification  of  this  kind  of  stretcher,  often  used  in  curing  the 
skins  of  the  musk-rat  and  other  small  animals,  is  a  simple  board? 
without  split  or  wedge,  three  sixteenth  of  an  inch  thick,  twenty 
inches  long,  six  inches  wide  at  the  large  end,  and  tapering  to  five 
and  a  half  inches  at  the  small  end,  chamfered  and  rounded  as  in 
the  other  cases.  The  animal  should  be  skinned  as  before  directed, 
and  the  skin  drawn  tightly  on  to  the  board  and  fastened  with  about 
four  tacks. 

THE  HOOP  STBETCHER.— The  skins  of  large  animals,  such 
as  the  beaver  and  the  bear,  are  best  dried  by  spreading  them,  at  full 
size  in  a  hoop.  For  this  purpose,  a  stick  of  hickory  or  other  flexible 
wood  should  be  cut,  long  enough  to  entirely  surround  the  skin  when 


ART  OF  CURING  SKINS.  83 


bent.  (If  a  single  stick  long  enough  is  not  at  hand,  two  smaller 
ones  can  be  spliced  together.)  The  ends  should  be  brought  around, 
lapped,  and  tied  with  a  string  or  a  withe  of  bark.  The  skin  should 
be  taken  from  the  animal  by  ripping  from  the  lower  front  teeth  to 
the  vent,  and  peeling  around  the  lips,  eyes  and  ears,  but  without 
ripping  up  the  legs.  It  should  then  be  placed  inside  the  hoop  and 
fastened  at  opposite  sides,  with  twine  or  bark,  till  all  loose  parts 
are  taken  up,  and  the  whole  stretched  so  that  it  is  nearly  round  and 
as  tight  as  a  drum-head.  When  it  is  dry  it  may  be  taken  from  the 
hoop,  and  is  ready  for  transportation. 

This  is  the  proper  method  of  treating  the  skin  of  the  deer. 
Some  prefer  it  for  the  wolf  and  raccoon.  In  many  cases  the  trap- 
per may  take  his  choice  between  the  hoop  and  the  board  method. 
One  or  the  other  of  these  methods  will  be  found  satisfactory  for 
curing  all  kinds  of  skins. 

If  it  is  simply  desired  to  preserve  skins  until  they  are  sold,  it 
is  only  necessary  to  dry  them  thoroughly.  If  the  weather  should 
be  damp  and  warm,  salt  the  flesh  side  slightly  with  fine  salt. 

A  dried  skin  oiled  so  as  to  become  smooth  and  pliable  will  re- 
tain the  hair  or  fur  considerable  time.  For  ordinary  purposes, 
rabbit,  squirrel,  and  other  small  skins  can  be  efficiently  preserved 
with  the  hair  by  the  application  of  powdered  alum  and  fine  salt, 
put  on  them  when  fresh,  or  if  not  fresh  by  first  dampening  them. 


SYNOPSIS    OF 

FISH  AND  GAME  LAWS, 


Wisco  nsin. 

WILD  GAME  may  be  killed  in  the  State  of  Wisconsin  only  duis 
ing  the  seasons  stated  below: 

WOOD-COCK,   from  July  10th  to  Jan.  1st. 

QUAIL,  PARTRIDGE,  PHEASANT,  PRAIRIE-HEN  or 
GROUSE  of  any  variety,  from  Aug.  15th  to  Jan.  1st. 

DUCKS  AND  GEESE,  from  Aug.  15th  to  Jan.  1st. 

OTTER,  MINK,  MARTEN,  FISHER,  MUSK-RAT,  from 
Nov.  1st  to  May  1st. 

DEER,  from  Nov.  1st  to  Dec.  15th. 

It  is  unlawful  to  hunt  or  kill  deer  after  nightfall  by  the  aid  of 
torchlight  or  any  other  artificial  light;  or  to  hunt  chase  or  kill  deer 
with  dogs;  at  any  time  to  catch  or  kill  any  game  birds  in  any  man- 
ner other  than  by  means  of  a  gun  discharged  from  the  shoulder,  or 
raised  and  held  by  the  hand;  for  any  person  or  corporation  to  carry 
out  of  the  State,  or  have  in  their  possession  for  that  purpose,  any 
game  bird  or  animal  mentioned  above.  Wild  pigeons,  and  beaver, 
mink,  musk-rat  and  other  fur-bearing  animals  are_excepted  from 
the  foregoing  law. 

The  game  laws  also  prohibit  the  use  of  net,  snare,  trap  gun  or 
spring,  pivot  or  swivel  gun,  in  killing  game  birds,  and  the  use  of 
any  flat  boat,  sail,  or  steamboat,  or  floating  box,  or  similar  device, 
or  from  any  fixed  or  artificial  blind  or  ambush  located  •  in  open 
water,  outside  or  beyond  the  natural  cover  of  reeds,  canes,  flag  or 
wild  rice.  Also  the  disturbing  of  any  game  birds  in  their  nesting 
or  breeding  place;  or  the  wounding  or  destroying  of  wild  pigeons 
within  three  miles  of  their  nesting  place. 

FISH  may  be  caught  in  Wisconsin  waters  only  during  the  seasons 
stated  below: 


86  FISH   AND  GAME   LAWS. 

BLACK  BASS  and  WALL-EYED  PIKE,  from  May  1st  to 
Feb.  1st. 

BROOK  TROUT,  from  April  15th  to  Aug.  15th. 

It  is  unlawful  to  take  or  catcli  Brook  Trout  by  any  means  or 
device  other  than  hook  and  line. 

Under  special  enactment,  in  Ashland,  Bayfield  and  Douglass 
counties,  the  open  season  is  from  April  1st  to  Sept.  15th.  In  Monroe 
county,  fish  must  not  be  taken  by  any  device  except  spear,  hook 
and  line  or  angling.  In  Devil's  Lake,  Sauk  county,  it  is  unlawful  to 
place  set  or  float  lines,  and  to  cast  a  fly  for  taking  fish  in  April,  May 
and  June. 

State  laws  relating  to  fish  and  game  do  not  apply  to  such  places 
within  the  State  as  have  in  force  penal  laws  of  a  local  character, 
conflicting  therewith  and  applicable  to  same  subject. 

MUSKALONGE  may  be  caught  at  any  time. 

Minnesota. 

WILD  GAME  may  be  killed  in  the  State  of  Minnesota  only 
during  the  seasons  stated  below: 

WOOD-COCK,  from  July  3d  to  Nov.  1st. 

QUAIL,  PHEASANT  or  RUFFED-GROUSE,  and  PART- 
RIDGE, from  Oct.  1st  to  Jan.  1st. 

PRAIRIE-CHICKEN  and  SHARP-TAILED  GROUSE,  from 
Aug.  15th,  to  Oct.  1st. 

DUCKS  and  GEESE,  from  Sept.  1st  to  May  15th. 

DEER  and  ELK,  from  Dec.  1st  to  15th. 

The  game  laws  prohibit  breaking  up  or  destroying  the  nests 
or  eggs  of  game  birds  and  all  harmless  birds,  except  wild  pigeons 
and  blackbirds;  also  the  taking  of  game  birds,  the  killing  or  trap 
ping  of  any  kind,  in  any  manner,  except  shooting  with  a  gun. 

If  game  is  found  in  possession  of  individuals  or  transportation 
companies  out  of  season,  it  is  considered  sufficient  evidence  for  con- 
viction of  violation  of  the  game  laws.  Exportation  from  the  State 
of  all  game  birds  is  prohibited. 

Hunters  are  forbidden  to  enter  fields  containing  growing  crops, 
not  their  own,  with  hunting  implements  or  dogs,  without  permis- 
sion of  the  owner  of  the  premises,  under  penalty  of  punishment 
for  trespass. 


FISH  AND  GAME  LAWS.  87 


FISH,  may  be  caught  in  the  State  of  Minnesota  only  during  the 
seasons  stated  below: 

BROOK  TROUT,  from  April  1st  to  Oct.  1st. 

The  taking  of  brook  trout  in  any  of  the  waters  of  the  State  by  any 
other  means  than  with  hook  and  line  is  prohibited;  nor  can  any 
other  variety  of  fish  be  taken,  except  by  angling  or  the  use  of  gun 
and  spear.  The  waters  of  Lake  Superior,  the  Mississippi,  Minnesota 
and  St.  Croix  rivers  are,  however,  excepted  from  the  operation  of 
this  latter  clause  of  the  law.  Again,  no  fish  must  be  taken  within 
four  hundred  feet  of  any  fishway. 

Spearing  of  fish  in  the  lakes  of  Hennepin  and  Ramsey  counties  is 
prohibited,  as  well  as  the  catching  of  pickerel  and  bass,  between 
March  15th  and  May  15th,  in  lakes  of  said  counties,  also  Washing- 
ton county. 

The  above  provisions  of  the  game  and  fish  laws  shall  not  apply  to 
any  places  within  the  State  where  other  laws  of  a  local  character, 
conflicting  therewith  and  applying  to  the  same  subject,  are  in  force. 

Michigan. 

WILD  GAME  may  be  killed  in  the  State  of  Michigan  only  during 
the  seasons  stated  below: 

DEER,  (Lower  Peninsula)  from  Oct  1st  to  Dec.  1st. 

DEER,  (Upper  Peninsula)  from  Aug.  15th  to  Nov.  15th. 

Fawns  when  in  spotted  coat  and  deer  when  in  red  coat  must  not 
be  killed  at  any  time. 

Deer  must  not  be  killed  at  any  time  while  in  the  waters  of  any 
stream,  or  lake. 

WOOD-COCK,  from  Aug.  1st  to  Jan.  1st. 

SNIPE,  from  Sept.  1st  to  May  1st. 

QUAIL,  from  Nov.  1st  to  Jan.  1st. 

WILD  TURKEY,  from  Oct.  1st  to  Jan.  1st. 

PARTRIDGE,  and  RUFFED-GROUSE,  WOOD,  TEAL,  MAL- 
LARD or  GRAY  DUCK,  from  Sept.  1st  to  Jan.  1st. 

PINNATED-GROUSE  or  PRAIRIE-CHICKEN,  from  Sept. 
1st  to  Nov.  1st. 

WILD  PIGEONS  —  No  fire-arms  can  be  used  against  wild 
pigeons  within  five  miles,  and  no  trap,  snare,  net  or  other  means 
•within  two  miles  of  their  nesting  places,  at  any  time  from  the  be- 
ginning until  the  last  hatching  of  such  nesting:. 


88  FISH   AND   GAME  LAWS. 

INSECTIVOROUS  BIRDS  must  not  be  killed  or  taken,  nor 
nests  molested  at  any  time.  / 

No  trap,  snare,  or  net,  nor  punt  or  swivel  gun,  can  be  used  to  take 
any  of  the  birds  named,  nor  must  they  be  molested  while  on  their 
nestings. 

FISH  may  be  caught  in  the  State  of  Michigan  only  during  the 
seasons  stated  below : 

BROOK  TROUT,  from  May  1st  to  Sept.  1st. 

GRAYLING,  from  June  1st  to  Nov.  1st. 

BASS,  PERCH  and  other  varieties  may  be  taken  at  any  time. 

Iowa. 

WILD  GA  ME  may  be  killed  in  the  State  of  Iowa  only  during 
the  seasons  stated  below: 

PRAIRIE  CHICKEN  or  PINNATED-GROUSE,  from  Aug. 
15th  to  Dec.  1st. 

WOOD-COCK,  from  July  10th  to  Jan.  1st. 

RUFFED-GROUSE  or  PHEASANT,  WILD  TURKEY,  and 
aUAIL,  from  Oct.  1st  to  Jan.  1st. 

DUCKS  and  GEESE,  or  BRANT,  from  Aug.  15th  to  May  1st. 

DEER  and  ELK,  from  Sept.  1st  to  Jan.  1st. 

It  is  unlawful  to  kill  game  in  any  manner  other  than  by  means  of 
a  gun  commonly  shot  from  the  shoulder. 

BEAVER,  MINK,  OTTER  and  MUSK-RAT  may  be  killed, 
trapped  or  ensnared  between  Nov.  1st  and  April  gist ;  they  may, 
however,  be  killed  at  any  time  when  necessary  for  the  protection  of 
private  property. 

The  game  laws  prohibit  killing  for  traffic,  any  pinnated-grouse, 
wood-cock,  quail,  ruffed  grouse  or  pheasant,  or  any  one  person  shoot- 
ing or  killing,  during  one  day,  or  having  in  his  possession  at  one 
time  more  than  twenty-five  of  the  foregoing  named  birds,  unless 
lawfully  received  for  transportation. 

Snaring,  netting,  or  trapping  any  birds,  or  destroying  eggs  or 
nests  of  birds  are  unlawful.  The  exportation  of  game  birds  is  pro- 
hibited. It  is  lawful  for  any  person  to  ship  to  any  other  person, 
within  the  State,  game  birds,  not  exceeding  one  dozen  in  number, 
in  one  day,  during  the  period  -vchen  the  killing  of  such  birds  is  not 
prohibited. 

FISH  may  be  caught  in  Iowa  during  the  seasons  stated  below: 


FISH  AND  GAME  LAWS.  89 

SALMON  and  TROUT,  from  Feb.  1st  to  Nov.  1st. 
BASS  and  WALL-EYED  PIKE,  from  June  1st  to  April  1st. 
It  is  unlawful  to  catch  fish  by  means  of  a  net  or  seine. 
There  is  no   restriction  upon  the  manner  of  taking   fish  in  the 
Mississippi  and  Missouri  Rivers. 

Dakota. 

WILD  GAME  may  be  killed  in  Dakota  only  during  the  seasons 
stated  below. 

BUFFALO,  ELK,  DEER,  ANTELOPE  and  MOUNTAIN 
SHEEP,  from  Sept.  1st  to  Jan.  1st. 

PRAIRIE-CHICKENS  and  all  other  GROUSE  from  Aug.  15th 
to  Jan.  1st. 

It  is  unlawful  to  kill,  trap  or  destroy  quail  in  Dakota  for  five  years 
from  and  after  Feb.  5,  1833.  Union,  Clay  and  Yankton  counties  are 
exempted  from  the  provisions  and  effects  of  this  law. 

The  game  laws  prohibit  any  person  from  killing,  ensnaring  or 
trapping,  in  any  form  or  manner,  any  Quail,  Prairie-Chicken, 
Grouse,  Snipe,  Plover  or  Curlew  on  any  premises  owned  or  occupied 
by  any  other  person,  without  the  consent  of  such  person;  also  pro- 
hibit any  person  from  killing,  or  ensnaring,  or  trapping,  in  any 
form  or  manner,  any  of  the  above  named  birds,  for  sale,  trade  or 
traffic,  at  any  time.  Except  that  any  of  the  above  named  birds  may 
be  sold  to  any  person  for  his  own  use,  to  be  consumed  within  the 
territory  between  Aug.  15  and  Dec.  31,  in  each  year. 

FISH. — It  is  unlawful  for  any  person  to  take,  catch,  kill  or  destroy 
any  fish  whatsoever,  except  by  angling  with  hook  and  line,  in  any 
of  the  lakes  or  streams,  or  inlets  or  outlets  of  said  streams,  or  any 
waters  of  the  Territory  of  Dakota,  except  the  Missouri  and  Red 
Rivers. 

It  is  unlawful  for  any  person  to  take,  catch,  kill  or  destroy  by  any 
device  whatsoever,  any  Pike,  Pickerel,  Perch,  Bass  or  Muskalonge, 
except  for  the  purposes  of  propagating  or  breeding,  in  any  of  the 
waters  of  the  Territory  of  Dakota,  except  the  Missouri  and  Red 
Rivers,  between  the  first  day  of  February  and  the  first  day  of  May 
in  any  year,  or  expose  the  same  for  sale  during  this  period. 


INDEX 

—  TO  — 

Northern  Sporting  and  Pleasure  Resorts. 


All  distances  given  are  from  Chicago.  The  initials  of  railways  have  the 
following  significance:  C.  &  N.  W.  is  for  the  Chicago  and  Northwestern  Ry. ; 
C.  St.  P.  M.  &  O  is  for  the  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Omaha  Ry. ;  C. 
M.  &  St.  P.  is  for  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Ry.;  G.  R.  &  I.  is  for  the 
Grand  Rapids  and  Indiana  R.  R. ;  M.  &  N.  is  for  the  Milwaukee  and  Northern 
R.  R.;  M.  L.  S.  &  W,  for  the  Milwaukee,  Lake  Shore  and  Western  Ry.;  M.  &  St. 
L.  is  for  the  Minneapolis  and  St.  Louis  Ry.;  Mich.  Cent,  is  for  the  Michigan 
Central  R.  R.;  N.  P.  is  for  the  Northern  Pacific  R.  R.;  St.  P.  M.  &  M.  is  for  the 
St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  and  Manitoba  Ry. :  Wis.  Cent,  is  for  the  Wisconsin  Cen- 
tral R.  R. : "[.  R.  is  for  the  Iron  Range  R.  R.;  M.  H.  &  O.  is  for  Marquetter 
Houghton  andOntonagon  R.  R;  St.  P.  &  D.  is  for  the  St.  Paul  and  Duluth  R.  R. 

Where  no  Railway  is  specified  the  place  is  either  a  lake  port  or  an  inland 
point. 

The  GOODRICH  LINE  of  Steamers  touch  at  most  of  the  Lake  Michi- 
gan and  Green  Bay  ports. 

The  NORTHERN  MICHIGAN  LINE  also  touches  Lake  Michigan 
ports,  and  in  addition  Mackinac,  Cheboygan,  etc.  HANNAH*  LAY  & 
CO.  LINE  runs  to  Traverse  City,  etc. 

The  Lake  Superior  ports  are  reached  by  the  LAKE  MICHIGAN 
AND  LAKE  SUPERIOR  TRANSPORTATION  CO.,  and  from  the 
Lower  Lakes,  and  the  east  by  the  LAKE  SUPERIOR  TRANSIT  CO. 

RAH/WAT.  MILES. 

Apostle  Islands— Lake  Superior ...  450 

Agate  Bay  (Two  Harbors)— Lake  Superior 500 

Albert  Lea,  Minn.-Inland  Lakes C.  M.  &  St.  P 410 

Alexandria,  Minn.       "          " St.  P.  M.  &  M 552 

Alpena,  Mich.— Lake  Huron 

Ames,  Wis.-Streams C.,  St.  P.  M.  &O....  409 

Antigo.  Wis.-Inland  Lakes M.  L. .  &  W... 

Appleton,  Wis.-Fox River \  g. l^w.  [  '.'.'.".:  185 

Ashby,  Minn.— Inland  Lakes St.  P.  M.  &  M  578 

Ashland,  Wis.-Lake  Superior ••••{  w*"  429 


INDEX  TO   NORTHERN   SPORTING  AND  PLEASURE  RESORTS. 


RAILWAY.          MILES 

Bamesville,  Minn St.  P.  M.  &  M 628 

Bayfield.  Wis.— Lake  Superior C.,  St.  P.  M.  &  O....  444 

Bay  City,  Mich.— Saginaw  Bay Mich.  Cent 334 

Bear  Lake,  Mich.— Lake  Michigan 

Beaver  Dam,  Wis.-Lake CM  M.  &  St.  P 15Q 

Beaver  Bay,  Minn.— North  Shore.    Lake  Superior 

Berlin,  Wis.— Fox  River C.,M.  &  St.  P 181 

Big  Stone  City,  Dak.— Lake C.,  M.  &  St.  P 601 

Black  River  Falls,  Wis. -River CM  St.  P.,  M.  &  O...  264 

Bois  Blanc  Island-Near  Mackinac 

Boyne  Tails,  Mich.-River G.  R.  &  I ...  ..  392 

Brainard,  Minn.— Lakes N.  P 546 

Briggsville,  Wis.— Lake  Mason.    Marquette  Co 

Brown's  Valley,  Minn.— Big  Stone  Lake St.  P.,  M.  &  M 616 

Brule,  Wis.— Bois  Brule  River C.  &N.  W 353 

Butternut,  Wis.-Lake Wis.  Cent 376 

Cadillac.  Mich.-Lake , G.  R.  &  1 315 

Calumet*  Mich.— Near  Lake  Lynden M.,  H.  &  O 485 

Cameron*  Wis.— Lakes  near C.,  St.  P.,  M.  &  O. . .    368 

Chaneaux  Islands,  Mich.— Near  Mackinac 

Charlevoix,  Mich.— Lake  Michigan Mich.  Cent 390 

Cheboygan,  Mich.— Lake  Huron 

Chelsea,  Wis,— Lakes Wis.  Cent 322 

Chetek,  Wis.— Lake C.,  St.  P.,  M.  &O... .    360 

Chisago  Lakes,  Minn.— Near  Taylor's  Falls St.  P.  &  D 

Clear  Lake,  Iowa.— Lake C.,  M.  &  St.  P 365 

Copper  Harbor,  Mich.— Lake  Superior.    Keewenaw  Peninsula 

Crookston,  Minn.— Red  River St.  P.,  M.  &  M 709 

Cross  Village,  Mich.— Lake  Michigan 

Dale,  Wis.-Wolf  River Wis.  Cent...  193 

Dartford,  Wis.— Green  Lake C.  &  N.  W... 174 

Delton,  Wis.— Mirror  Lake,  near  Kilbourn C.  M.  &  St.  P 

Detroit,  Minn.— Lake N.  P ....  639 

Devil's  Lake,  Wis.— Lake.  .  C.  &N.W 173 

Devil's  Lake,  Dak.— Lake St.  P.,  M.  &M 819 

Duluth,  Minn.-Lake  Superior I  C.',  It.'p^M.' &  o'.'.  f  475 

Eagle  River,  Wis.-Lakes M.,L.S.  &W 351 

Eagle  River,  Mich.— Lake  Superior.    Keewenaw  Peninsula 

Egg  Harbor,  Wis.— Green  Bay .    Door  Co.  Peninsula 

Elkhart  Lake*  Wis M.  &  N 147 

Elk  Rapids,  Mich.— Near  Traverse  City 

Ellison's  Bay,  Wis.— Green  Bay.    Door  Co.  Peninsula 

Escanaba,  Mich.— Green  Bay .C.  &  N.  W 328 

Excelsior,  Minn.— Lake  Minnetonka 


INDEX  TO   NORTHERN  SPORTING  AND  PLEASURE   RESORTS. 


RAILWAY.  MILES. 

Fairmont,  Minn.— Lake C.,  M.  &  St.  P 469 

Fayette,  Mich.— Big  Ba  de  Noquette,  near  Escanaba 

Feigns  Falls.  Minn.-Red  River St.  P.,  M.  &M 596 

Fife  Lake,  Mich.— Lake G.  R.  &  1 43C 

Fifield,  Wis.— Near  Flambeau  River Wis.  Cent 363 

Fish  Creek,  Wis.— Green  Bay.    Door  Co.  Peninsula 

(  Wis.  Cent ) 

Fond  dn  Lac, Wis.— Lake  Winnebago 4  C.  &N.  W L    151 

(C.  M.  &  St.  P | 

Fond  dn  Lac*  Minn.— St.  Louis  River St.  P.  &  D 565 

Forest  Lake,  Minn.— Lake St.  P.  &  D 434 

Fort  Francis,  Manitoba.— Rainy  Lake.    Boundary  Line 

Foi  t  "William,  Canada.— Thunder  Bay.    Lake  Superior 

Fox  Lake,  Wis.— Lake C.  M.  &  St.  P 157 

Frankfort.  Mich.— Lake  Michigan , .... 

Frontenac,  Minn.—  Lake  Pepin C.,  M.  &  St.  P 359 

Gill's  Landing,  Wis.— Wolf  River Wis.  Cent 204 

Glen-wood  Minn.— Lake  Whipple,  near  Alexandria 

Glen  Arbor,  Mich.— Lake  Michigan .-. 

Gogebic,  Mich.— Lake M.,  L   S.  &  W 400 

Gordon,  Wis.— Brule  River C.,  St.P.M.  &O...    432 

Granite  Falls>  Minn.— River C.,  M.  &  St.  P 541 

Grand  Haven*  Mich.— Lake  Michigan .  

Grand  Morais,  Minn.— North  Shore  Lake  Superior 

Grand  Portage,  Minn.— North  Shore  Lake  Superior 

Grand  Rapids,  Mich.— Grand  River G.  R.  &  I , . . . .    217 

Grand  Rapids,  Wis.— Black  River C.,  M.  &  St.  P 295 

Grayling,  Mich.— Rivers Mich.  Cent 416 

Green  Bay,  Wis.-Bay jcJ'^N.'w.'!!      .'!  [    198 

Green  Lake,  Wis.— Lake.  Dartf ord  Post-office C.  &  N .  W 174 

Hancock  Mich.— Portage  Lake M.,  H.  &  O 472 

Harbor  Springs,  Mich.— Traverse  Bay G.,  R.  &  1 416 

Hartland,  Wis.— Lakes C.,  M.  &  St.  P 109 

Hayward.  Wis.— Lakes,  etc C.,St.  P.,  M.  &O.. ..  425 

Hinckley,  Minn.-Streams {  It  R,'M.D&M. '.!'.;  [    496 

Horioon,  Wis.— Lake C.,  M.  &  St.  P 139 

Honghton,  Mich.— Portage  Lake M.,  H.  &O 471 

Interlaken,  Minn.— Lakes St.  P.,  M.  &M 566 

Ishpeming,  Mich.— Near  Lake  Superior j  M'  V^&To [  392 

Kalkaska.  Mich.— Trout  Streams G.  R.  &  1 354 

Kilbourn,  Wis.— Wisconsin  River C.,  M.  &  St.  P 194 

Koshkonong  Wis.— Lake C.  &  N.  W 104 


INDEX  TO  NORTHERN   SPORTING   AND  PLEASURE  RESORTS.  93 


RAILWAY.        MILES. 

Lac  Vieux  Desert,  Wis M.,  L.  S.  &  W 375 

Lake  City  Minn.— Lake  Pepin C.,  M.  &  St.  P 352 

Lake  Crystal,  Minn.— Lakes C.,  St.  P.,M.  &O....  521 

Lake  Geneva  Wis.— Lake C.  &  N.  W 70 

Lake  of  the  Woods— 680  miles  via  Lake  Superior  route 

Lake  Madison.  Minn.— 10  miles  from  Mankato 425 

Lake  Benton,  Minn.—Lake  C.  &  N.  W 560 

Lake  Mills,  Wis.-Lake C.  &  N.  W 126 

L'Anse   Mich.— Lake  Superior M.,  H.  &  O 440 

Lanesboro,  Minn.— Lake ..C.,  M  &St.P       ...  333 

Litchfield    M  inn.— Lakes . .  St.  P.,  M.  &  M 487 

Little  Falls,  Minn.— River N.  P 516 

Long  Lake  (No.  1),  Wis C.,  St.  P.,  M.  &O...  452 

Ludington,  Mich.— Lake  Michigan 


Madison.  Wis.-Lakes ]  &€.«,« 

Mackinac  Island,  Mich.— Straits  of  Mackinac 

Mackinaw  City,  Mich j  Mich.' Cent'.!.      '.'.\    443 


Maukato,  Minn.— River  and  Lake C.,  St.  P.  M.  &  O. . .  508 

Manitoulin  Islands-  In  Georgian  Bay,  near  Mackinac 

Manistee.  Mich.— Lake  Michigan 

Maiiitowoc,  Wis.— Lake  Michigan M.,  L.  S.  &  W 162 

Marinette,  Wis.— Green  Bay C.  &  N.  W 262 

Marquette,  Mich.— Lake  Superior M.,  H.  &  O 401 

Marquette,  Wis.— Lake  Puckaway.    See  Green  Lake 

Mazo  Manie   Wisconsin  River C.,  M.  &  St.  P 204 

Medford    Wis.— Near  Lake Wis.  Cent 317 

(C.&N.  W ) 

Meiiasha,  Wis.-Lake  Winnebago 1  Wis.  Cent V  178 

IM.&N f 

Menominee.  Mich.-Green  Bay j  g  &LN-gw^  —  ••  j.  264 

Menominee,  Wis.-River ]  g.,  !St.  P -M^&O.  I  345 

Minneopa  Falls,  Minn C.,  St.  P.  M.  &  O.  . .  514 

Minneapolis*  Minn.— Ail  North-western  Railways 420 

Moiitello  Wis.-Lakes Wis.  Cent 197 

Munising,  Mich.— Lake  Superior,  near  Pictured  Rocks 

Nashotah.  Wis.-Lakes C.,  M.  &  S.  P 112 

Necedah,  Wis.-River C.,TH.  &  St.  P 232 

Neenah,  Wis.-Lake  Winnebago "!  Wit.  CeS::':::.':"  f  182 

Negaunee,  Mich.-Near  Lake  Superior ]  M.fn'^o [  389 

New  London,  Wis.- Wolf  River M.',  L.  S.  &  W 22"; 

Nokwebay,  Wis.-Lake..  M.  &  N.  R £..•> 


94          INDEX  TO   NORTHERN  SPORTING  AND  PLEASURE   RESORTS. 


RAILWAY.  MTLES. 

Oconomowoc,  Wis.— Lakes  ...  C.,  M.  &  St.  P 116 

Oconto,  Wis.-Green  Bay ]  SA^Vfc  W\'.'..'.  \  243 

Oconto  Falls,  Wis.— River M.'L.  S.  &  W 255 

Okoboji.  Iowa.— Lakes C.,  M.  &  St.P 473 

Ontario.  Wis  —  Kickapoo  River 243 

Ontonagon,  Mich.— Lake  Superior 

(C.  &N.  W ) 

Oshkosh,  Wis.— Lake  Winnebago 1  Wis.  Cent V  157 

|C.,M.  &st.  P f 

Osakis,  Minn.— Lake St.  P.,  M.  &  M 540 

Otsego  Lake*  Mich.— Lake Mich.  Cent 433 

Packwaukee  Wis.— Buffalo  Lake Wis.  Cent 189 

Palmyra,  Wis.-Lake    C.,  M.  &  St.  P 127 

Pelican,  Wis.-Lake M.  L.  S.  &  W 320 

Pelican  Rapids,  Minn.— Lake St.  P.,  M.  fc  M 620 

Pensaukee,  Wis.— Green  Bay C.  &  N.  W 237 

Peshtigo.  Wis.— Green  Bay C.  &  N.  W 255 

Petoskey,  Mich.— Bay G.,  R.  &  1 408 

Pewaukee,  Wis —Lake C.,  M.  &  St.  P 104 

Pigeon  River,  Minn.— Lake  Superior.    Boundary  Line 

Pipestone  City,  Minn |  g-;  ^  f.ffcfj;  5;  j-  575 

Pipestone  Mountain,  Wis.— Near  Rice  Lake 

Plover,  Wis.— Lakes,  near G.  B.  &  M 279 

Pokegama,  Minn.— Lake St.  P.,  M.  &  M 545 

Portage »  Wis.— Fox  and  Wisconsin  Rivers C  ,  M .  &  St.  P 1 77 

Quinnesec  Falls,  Mich.— Menominee  River . .  : C.  &  N.  W 330 

Rat  Portage,  Manitoba.— Lake  of  the  Woods 1001 

Redwood  Falls  Minn.— River C.  &  N.  W 5^5 

Rhinelander.  Wis.— River M.,  L.  S.  &  W 340 

Rice  Lake,  Wis.-Lake C. ,  St.  P.,  M.  &  O. . .  375 

Ripon,  Wis.-Streams,  etc -j  g-  M^Vsfp" }  168 

River  Falls-  Wis.— Streams C.,  St.  P.,  M.  &  O. . .  401 

Roscommon,  Mich.— Streams Mich.  Cent 401 

St.  Cloud,  Minn.— Lakes St.  P.,  M.  &  M 485 

St.  Croix  Falls,  Wis.— River,  opposite  Taylor's  Falls 

St.  Helen's  Station,  Mich  .—River Mich.  Cent 389 

St.  Ignace,  Mich.— Opposite  Mackinaw  City 

St.  Paul.  Minn.— All  North-Western  Railways..     410 

St.  Peter,  Minn.— Lake  and  River ...C.,  St  P,  M.  &O  ...  496 

ft.  Vincent,  Minn.— Red  River St.  P.,  M  &  M 800 

Sank  Center,  Minn.— Lakes St.  P.,  M.  &  M.         .  527 


INDEX  TO  NORTHERN  SPORTING  AND  PLEASURE   RESORTS.          95 


RAILWAYS  MILES. 

Sault  Ste-  Marie,  Mich.—  At  outlet  of  Lake  Superior  ................... 

Schlesengerville,  Wis.-Near  Cedar  Lake  ........  \  wi^f'  Cent*  P  "     "  [  117 

Shawano.  Wis.—  Lake  ...............................  M.,  L.  S.  &  W  .......  256 

Sheboygan,  Wis.-Lake  Michigan  ..................  -|  §M&L?S.'&  W  .....  [  137 

Siskowit  Bay.—  Isle  Royale.    Lake  Superior  .............................. 

Sister  Bay*  Wis.—  Green  Bay.    Door  Co.  Peninsula  ...................... 

Spring  Lake,  Mich.—  Near  Grand  Haven  .................................. 

Sparta,  Wis.-La  Crosse  River  ......................  ]  a'&Vw'*  *  .....  }  255 

Spirit  Lake,  lowa.-Lake  ...........................  !  B?  &  C&RSt*  P  .....  [  47T 

State  Line,  Wis.—  Lakes,  near  ........................  M.,  L.S.&W...     .  370 

Stevens  Point,  Wis.—  River  ..........................  Wis.  Cent  ...........  245 

Sturgeon  Bay,  Wis.—  Green  Bay.    Door  Co.  Peninsula  .................. 

Sturgeon  Falls,  Mich.—  Menominee  River  ...........  C.  &  N.  W.  .  .........  319 

Superior.  Wis.-Lake  Superior  ......................  ]§''!*'  P"M'  &  °*  '  }  m 

Tahquamenon,  Mich.—  River  and  Falls,  near  Sault  Ste.  Marie  ........... 

Taylor's  Falls.  Minn.—  St.  Croix  River  ...............  St.  P.  &  D  ...........  436 

Toman.  Wis.—  Near  Stream  ...........................  C.,  M.  &  St.  P  .......  239 

Torch  Lake-  Mich.—  Near  Grand  Traverse  Bay  ........................... 

Tower  City,  Minn.—  Vermilion  Lake  ................  Iron  Range  .........  560 

Traverse  City,  Mich.—  Bay  ...........................  G.  R.  &  1  ............  362 

Tustin,  Mich.—  Lake  ....................................  G.  R.  &  1  ...........  303 

Wadena,  Minn.—  Lakes  ...............................  N.  P  ................  592 

Waseca,  Minn  —  Lakes  .................................  C.  &  N.W  ...........  402 

"Washington  Harbor.—  Washington  Island.    G  reen  Bay  ............... 

Waters-meet.  Mich.—  Streams  .......................  M.,  L.  S.  &  W  ......  378 

Watterville-  Minn.—  Lakes  ...........................  M.  &  St.  L  ..........  413 

Waverly,  Minn.—  Lake  ..............................  St.  P.,  M.  &  M  ......  459 

Waukesha,  Wis.-Fox  River  ......................  jc.^&stp  .....  \  106 

Waupaca-  Wis.—  Chain  of  Lakes  ......................  Wis  Cent  ............  215 

Wausau,  Wis.  -Wisconsin  River  ...................  |  <^M.  |  ^  .....  £  295 

Weyauwega,  Wis.—  Waupaca  River  ................  Wis  .  Cent  ...........  203 

White  Bear  Lake  Minn.—  Near  St.  Paul  :  .........  St.  P.  &  D  ...........  428 

"White  Birch.  Wis.—  Upper  St.  Croix  .................  C.,  St.  P.,  M.  &O...  428 

Wilmar,  Minn.—  Lake  ................................  St.  P.,  M.  &  M  ......  513 

Winneconne,  Wis.—  Lake  Poygan  ...................  C.,  M.  &  St.  P  .......  189 

Winnipeg,  Manitoba.—  Red  River  ..................  St.  P.,  M.  &  M  ......  868 

Withee,  Wis.—  B  lack  River  ............................  Wis.  Cent  ...........  311 

Worthington  .  Minn.—  Lake  .........................  C.,  St.  P.,  M.  &  O.  .  .  601 


96  WISCONSIN  STATE  PARK. 


THE   STATE  PARK. 

Near  the  northern  extremity  of  the  State  of  Wisconsin,  and  quite 
unknown  to  the  general  public,  is  a  tract  of  land  comprising  over 
fifty  thousand  acres,  which  has  been  set  aside  by  the  State  for  a 
public  park.  A  more  natural  park  or  game-preserve  could  hardly 
have  been  chosen  in  all  the  northern  country.  It  is  heavily  tim- 
bered, in  places  quite  marshy,  and  contains  a  myriad  of  small  lakes, 
with  the  usual  accompanying  brooks  and  rivulets,  so  plentifully  dis- 
tributed over  our  northern  territory. 

Many  of  these  lakes  are  covered  in  part  with  the  wild  rice,  so 
alluring  to  aquatic  fowl,  besides  which,  the  sportsman  can  always 
depend  upon  finding  in  a  district  of  this  nature  a  plentiful  supply  of 
the  finny  game. 

It  was  a  wise  and  far-seeing  man  who  first  proposed  to  the  Wis- 
consin Solons  to  set  aside  a  vast  tract  of  almost  primeval  forest- 
land  for  the  benefit  of  the  coming  generation  of  sportsmen.  It  now 
only  remains  for  some  one,  more  public -spirited  than  his  fellows,  to 
propose,  and  urge  until  it  is  consummated,  a  plan  for  the  propaga 
tion  of  such  game,  in  the  park,  as  has  become  extinct,  or  almost  so, 
in  this  section  of  Wisconsin.  A  similar  institution  to  the  Fish 
Commission,  should  be  maintained.  The  park  should  be  stocked 
with  all  game  indigenous  to  the  country;  wild-turkey,  plover,  swan, 
deer,  elk  and  all  the  other  species  that  are  now  lacking  or  liable 
to  run  out. 


•'THE  WOLF  OF  THE  WATERS." 
Hints  from  an  Old  Hunter \ 

When  sleeping  in  the  woods  without  sufficient  covering,  lie  with 
the  stomach  to  the  earth;  this  prevents  the  heat  generated  in  the 
stomach  from  escaping. 

If  in  a  snow-storm  keep  snow  below  as  well  as  above  and 
around  you. 

When  in  the  woods  without  compass  or  the  sun  to  guide  you, 
remember  that  the  bark  on  the  north  side  of  a  tree  is  always  darker 
than  on  the  south,  and  that  if  there  be  moss  it  is  on  the  north  or 
shady  side.  Also  notice  the  top  twig  of  the  hemlock,  for  it  always 
bends  to  the  north. 

Never  travel  without  matches  in  your  pocket,  for  if  you  do  not 
need  a  fire  for  its  heat,  you  may  require  it  to  keep  off  mosquitoes. 
A  mixture  of  oil  of  tar,  sweet-oil  and  a  little  creosote  is  a  splendid 


98 


HINTS  FROM   AN   OLD  HUNTER. 


preparation  for  the  hands  ^and  face,  where  mosquitoes  are  trouble- 
some. 

In  locating  a  camp,  first  consider  well  the  lay  of  the  ground.  Se- 
lect as  near  as  possible  the  north  side  of  an  opening  or  lake,  so  that 
the  night  breeze  from  the  south  which  usually  sets  in  about  eight 
o'clock,  will  strike  you.  Then,  if  on  high  land,  you  will  experience 
an  exquisitely  refreshing  sleep,  entirely  free  from  mosquitoes 

HOTEL  ACCOMMODATIONS,  which  as  a  rule  are  first- 
class,  costs  the  traveler  usually  $2  per  day;  occasionally  at  the 
more  popular  Summer  Eesorts  the  rates  are  $2.50  to  $3.00,  but  sel- 
dom higher,  except  for  extra  rooms,  etc. 

PRIVATE  FAMILIES  in  the  larger  towns  often  take  summer 
boarders,  and  charge  from  $5  to  $12  per  week. 

SMALL  BOATS  are  to  let,  at  nearly  all  places  of  resort,  and 
range  from  50  cents  to  $1.00  r>er  da^  the  higher  mice  as  you  go 
northward. 

GUIDES,  OARSMEN  AND  COOKS,  serve  at  from  $2  to  $3 
per  day,  and  found. 


CAMP  ON 


EAGLE  RIVER. 


ON  THE  FLAMBEAU. 


99 


How  to  Put  Up  a  Hammock. 

If  you  desire  a  hammock  for  sitting  or  swinging  purposes  only, 
theu  tie  both  ends  equally  elevated.  If  for  reclining  purooses  the 
head  should  be  higher  than  the  feet. 

A  good  rule  is  to  fasten  the  hook  for  the  head  of  the  hammock 
six  feet,  three  inches  from  the  ground  or  floor,  and  the  lower  end 
three  feet,  three  inches.  The  distance  between  the  two  should  be 
eighteen  or  twenty  feet,  though  fifteen  feet  will  answer.  The  longer 
rope  should  be  at  the  bottom  end,  as  this  makes  swinging  much 
easier  and  more  agreeable. 

For  outdoor  use  when  two  trees  are  not  available,  the  hook 
for  the  head  may  be  fastened  upon  the  tree  or  the  rope  tied 
to  it,  and  a  post  set  in  the  ground  at  the  required  distance  for 
the  lower  end.  In  this  manner,  shade  can  be  secured  though 
the  lounger  be  the  possessor  of  but  a  single  tree.  The  fastenings 
and  rope  should  be  strong  and  secure  beyond  a  peradventure.  The 
closely  woven  hammocks  are  best,  as  they  do  not  catch  the  buttons 
nor  wear  out  so  quickly. 


MIDNIGHT  DIVERSION 

IN 

THE  NORTHERN  WILDS. 


THE  NORTH-WESTERN 


9 
199    SOUTH    CLARK    STREET,    CHICAGO, 

Controls  over  7,000,000  Acres  of 

"Mineral?  Timber  and    Farming  JLands. 


We  have  Agents  and  Correspondents  in  all  the  principal  cities  of 
the  North-west  who  are  well  posted  in  regard  to  lands  in 
their  vicinity.  They  are  all  perfectly  reliable,  and  are  mostly 
men  of  wealth  and  influence. 

We  have  in  our  employ  a  number  of  reliable  explorers  and 
land-hunters,  who  will  locate  interests  of  all  kinds  and  in  almost 
any  section  of  the  North-west.  Tell  us  what  you  want,  and  if  we 
do  not  suit  you  it  will  be  strange  indeed.  The  general  manager 
of  our  association,  Mr.  G.  F.  Thomas,  who  is  also  president  of  the 
"Land  Seekers  Bureau  of  Information,"  is  undoubtedly  better 
acquainted  with  the  topography  of  the  North-west  than  any 
other  man,  thus  enabling  us  to  transact  much  business  that 
others  cannot  handle.  Among  the  members  of  our  Association 
are  several  of  the  noted  land-men  of  Wisconsin,  Minnesota  and 
Michigan. 

We  are  agents  for  the  sale  of  a  large  part  of  the  RAILROAD 
LANDS  of  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota.  We  locate  Government 
and  State  lands,  homesteads,  pre-emptions,  etc.  We  organize 
SYNDICATES  for  the  purpose  of  controlling  and  buying  heavy 
landed  interests.  Safe  investment  of  funds  made  with  little  cost 
and  no  risk.  We  are  Agents  for  the  sale  of  stock  in  the 

Apostle  Islands   Improvement   Co., 

A  SPLENDID  INVESTMENT  and  if  one  should  sometime 
have  an  inclination  to  visit  these  beautiful  "  Summer  Isles  of  a 
Northern  Sea  "  it  would  be  more  than  pleasant  to  know  that  you 
own  an  interest  there. 

Parties  desiring  summer  homes,  unsurpassed  in  America,  should 
correspond  with  us. 


LIST    OIF 

Belonging  to  the  NORTH-WESTERN  LAND  ASSOCIATION 

AND  OTHERS,  FOR  SALE  AT  BED-ROCK  PRICES. 


PINE  LANDS.— In  Northern  Minnesota  and  Wis- 
consin, large  and  small  lots,  and  cheap  for  cash. 

HEMLOCK.— 200,000  acres  for  sale.    TANNERY  WANTED. 

HARDWOOD  LANDS.— Three  large  tracts  on  Up- 
per Wisconsin  River,  also  a  large  amount  in  the 
Upper  Peninsula  of  Michigan,  some  in  Minnesota  and 
Central  Wisconsin.  The  latter  is  in  small  lots,  suit- 
able for  men  who  wish  to  make  for  themselves  homes, 
and  have  but  a  few  dollars  to  begin  with. 

PRAIRIE  LANDS.— In  South-western  Minnesota, 
no  better  in  the  world.  They  can  be  bought  at  from 
$7  to  $10  per  acre.  Any  amount  of  Dakota  Lands  for 
sale  or  trade. 

IMPROVED  FARMS  in  all  sections  of  the  North- 
west. 

STOCK  FARM— 3,000  acres  near  St.  Paul,  (a  good 
speculation  for  a  syndicate.) 

TOWN  SITES.— We  have  several  fine  locations,  on 
established  Railroads  in  Wisconsin  and  Minnesota. 

HOTEL  SITES.— Always  a  few  desirable  locations. 

WATER    PRIVILEGES.— Locations  first-class. 

STONE  QUARRIES.— Lake  Superior  Sand  Stone 
and  others. 

SUMMER  RESORTS.— Some  delightful  situations 
on  beautiful  lakes,  etc.  Lots  for  sale. 

TOWN  LOTS.— In  Ashland,  Washburn,  Bayfield, 
West  Superior  (the  new  town),  and  other  towns  scat- 
tered over  the  North-west, 

Address  all  Communications  to 

N.W.   Land  Association, 

199  s.  CLARK  ST.,  CHICAGO. 


OFFICE  OF  THE 
' 


(INCORPORATED  1883), 

MADISON,  WIS. 


OFFICERS: 

G.  F.  THOMAS,  President.  E.  C.  COLEMAN,  Vice-President. 

L.  C.  JONES,  Secretary.  E.  L.  HITCHCOCK,  Treasurer. 


OBJECT  QF  THE  ASSOCIATION. 

Firstly:  To  furnish  its  patrons  with  valuable  information  relating 
to  any  and  all  sections  of  land  lying  in  the  Northwestern  States  and 
Territories  —  their  geographical,  topographical  and  geological  ar- 
rangement, or  condition  of  same. 

'Secondly:  For  the  procurement  of '  special  Railroad  and  Hotel  ac- 
commodations, reduced  rates,  etc. 

Thirdly:  For  the  organization  of  summer  excursions  to  Lake  Su- 
perior and  the  numerous  other  important  and  interesting  localities 
of  the  Great  Northwest. 

The  facilities  possessed  by  said  Association  for  acquiring  these 
unusual  and  peculiar  advantages  are  mainly  due  to  Mr.  G.  F.  Thomas, 
the  Association's  founder  and  first  president.  Mr.  Thomas,  in  his 
literary  pursuits — searching  after  early  history,  traditions  and  the 
hidden  objects  of  wonder,  so  profusely  distributed  over  our  northern 
and  western  America  —  has  unusual  advantages  for  learning  the  "  lay 
of  the  land,"  as  it  were.  During  his  many  years  spent  in  explora- 
tions and  research,  associating  with  the  Pioneer  and  the  Woodsman, 
and  at  times  living  among  the  Indians,  that  he  might  learn  their 
habits  and  some  of  their  secrets,  Mr.  Thomas  has  ever  kept  a  sharp 
lookout  —  noting  the  topography  of  the  country  wherein  he  traveled, 
its  advantages,  etc.,  and  without  the  least  egotism  we  feel  justified 
in  claiming  for  him  knowledge  of  the  Northwest  equalling,  if,  indeed, 
not  surpassing,  that  of  any  other  one  man. 

Outside  the  members  themselves,  several  of  whom  have  an  ex- 
tensive acquaintance  in  the  Northwest,  our  Association  has  nearly 


two  hundred  correspondents,  located  at  various  advantageous  points 
between  Lake  Huron  and  the  Columbia  River  on  the  Pacific  Coast, 
many  of  whom  have  spent  a  large  portion  of  their  lives  in  exploring, 
surveying,  etc.,  while  others  again  are  old  hunters,  trappers  and 
Indian  traders. 

From  these  and  other  sources,  our  ' '  Bureau  of  Information "  is 
enabled  to  offer  the  general  public,  or  that  portion  thereof  which 
may  see  fit  to  become  patrons  of  the  enterprise,  an  almost  inexhaust- 
ible mine  of  wealth  —  a  source  of  prosperity. 

Every  purchaser  of  an  "  ANNUAL  CERTIFICATE  CARD,"  costing  only 
ten  (10)  dollars,  is  entitled  to  the  use  of  the  "Bureau's"  fund  of 
information,  by  correspondence  or  otherwise,  as  well  as  all  other 
aids  or  benefits  which  the  Association  may  be  able  to  confer.  There 
is  printed  upon  the  back  of  each  of  the  "Annual  Certificate  Cards" 
a  list  of  first-class  Hotels  and  Real  Estate  Agents  specially  recom- 
mended by  the  "Bureau  of  Information." 

The  price  of  an  Annual  Certificate  Card  — $10  —  is  extremely  low, 
considering  the  expense  and  labor  required  in  first  becoming  capable 
of  instituting  a  Bureau  of  Information  of  such  vast  scope  and  pros- 
pects as  that  of  the  aforesaid  institution. 

From  the  Bureau  of  Information  the  Speculator  can  learn  that 
which  will  often  enable  him  to  secure  a  fortune. 

The  Lumberman  can  have  timber  land  located  and  estimated  by 
competent  and  experienced  woodsmen. 

The  Tourist  and  Sportsman  can  know  "  their  best  route,"  and  also 
obtain  descriptive  and  historical  literature  concerning  the  same. 

The  Poor  Man  can  learn  where  to  homestead  or  pre-empt  to  the 
best  advantage. 

The  Tradesman,  the  Mechanic,  the  Miller,  or  the  Professional  Man, 
can,  by  applying  to  the  Land  Seekers'  Bureau  of  Information,  usually 
find  a  desirable  location. 

References. —  Mr.  Thomas  personally  refers  to  PRESTON,  KEAN  &. 
Co.,  Bankers,  Chicago;  MERCHANTS'  EXCHANGE  BANK,  Milwaukee. 


ALL  CORRESPONDENCE  SHOULD  BE  ADDRESSED  TO 

THE  L'AND  SEEKERS'  BUREAU  OF  INFORMATION, 
No.  20,  W.  Wilson  St. ,  MADISON.  Wis. 


•Abject  to  immediate  recall. 

14De'54RC 


)V  3  01954 

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100m-l/54(1887sl6   476 


beam,  weight,  50  to  75  pounds,  win*  ^^^,  T.. 

Special  rates  to  clubs  ordering  a  number  at  one  time. 

for  catalogue.    Sail  and  Steam  Yachts  built  to  order. 

POWELL   &    DOUGLAS, 


Manufacturers  of  Windmills,  Pumps,  etc. 


jiil  to 
l-inch 
brder. 
Send  stamp 


ILL. 


M315170 


